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Uecker was the voice of his hometown team who after a short playing career earned the moniker "Mr. Baseball" and honors from the Hall of Fame.

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Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: One-minute review

Maybe a giant tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra seems wild to some, but to me it makes a lot of sense. I love a huge screen; the bigger the better. I want a tablet that can be a work surface, a drawing space, a tabloid newspaper, and a television stand-in when I’m moving to a new house and my TV is packed. Like all of Samsung’s ‘Ultra’ devices, the Tab S10 Ultra is all I need and much more.

How much more? There’s the S Pen, of course, which clings loosely to the back of the Tab S10 Ultra, so you’ll definitely want to buy Samsung’s Smart Book Cover case, at least.

Also, the Tab S10 Ultra is water resistant enough to take a dunk, which may seem superfluous for a tablet that would never possibly fit in a toilet, but it speaks to the Tab's durability. You can use it in the bath tub, or the pool, or in a wet environment, then wash it in the sink. That’s pretty amazing for a tablet this size.

There’s also… um, actually that’s kind of all there is? Okay, there’s Galaxy AI, of course, but nobody should buy a premium Android tablet for features like Sketch to Image or Circle to Search. Maybe someday AI will be a ‘system seller,’ as the gamers say, but for now it’s barely a bonus feature.

Otherwise, this is almost exactly the same as last year's Tab S9 Ultra, which is both good news and bad. The good news is that last year’s tablet was great! I reviewed the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and I thought it was a powerhouse for productivity, and you actually get a lot of technology, even though the price is high.

You can easily see two full windows side-by-side on the Tab S10 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is so close to last year’s model that all of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra accessories work with this tablet. But a warning: if you want a keyboard, don’t buy Samsung’s offering. I wouldn’t usually knock accessories so hard, but this is an important component of a laptop replacement tablet. Samsung needs a much better keyboard for the Tab S series. Samsung’s keyboard is flimsy and unpleasant.

The Tab S10 Ultra version has an AI key... awesome. For the same price (even less!), Apple owners get a Magic Keyboard that's rigid and premium. You can lift the iPad by the lip of the keyboard, but don’t try that with Samsung’s QWERTY.

The good news is that all the third-party cases and covers for the Tab S9 Ultra fit the S10 Ultra. Cool, there are some good options on Amazon, at least. But that means this tablet is basically unchanged from last year, on the outside at least.

Usually, when a product doesn’t change much year-over-year, there's either a big upgrade under the hood, or there is a price drop for new buyers. Unfortunately, neither of those things happened.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is the same price as the Tab S9 Ultra in the US and UK, and it’s $50 more in Australia. Inside, you get a… hold on, [checks notes] MediaTek Dimensity 9300. Wait, seriously?! Samsung is using a MediaTek processor? Instead of Qualcomm? Instead of Samsung Semiconductor!?

Not much has changed from this Tab S9 Ultra to the Tab S10 Ultra (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Oooooookay. Well, the results are what you’d expect. It’s a good brain for a tablet, but it isn’t a Snapdragon. Last year’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra came with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset found in the Galaxy S23 family. This year’s Galaxy S24 uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The MediaTek 9300 can mostly keep up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and once in a while beat it, but not always.

Why is there a MediaTek chip in this flagship Samsung tablet? MediaTek makes a respectable, less expensive chip that focuses more on graphics performance than overall raw power. The Tab S10 Ultra does have slightly better graphics capabilities than a Galaxy S24 phone, but this is supposed to be Samsung’s best tablet. Why is it only slightly better?

Apple is loading its comparably priced iPad Pro with an Apple M4 chip, which is more powerful than most Windows laptops. Samsung gives you a lot more display on the Tab S10 Ultra, but at the cost of so much performance that it knocks the Ultra back into a lower category. This is a gigantic mid-range tablet, not a premium flagship.

If you want to run pro-level software, you should buy Apple’s tablet. If you want the biggest, best display to run all of your Android apps and games and watch your favorite content, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a great choice, with a screen that will knock your socks off. But we all know it should be a few hundred bucks cheaper.

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: price and availability

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Starts at $1,1199 / £1,199 / AU$2,049 for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage
• A 5G version is available, but not in the US

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is Samsung’s biggest and most expensive tablet, and it costs a bit less than the iPad Pro 13-inch, which is a point in its favor, considering Samsung gives you a humongous 14.6-inch display. That’s not a small difference: the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra display offers 65% more screen area than the iPad Pro 11-inch.

Besides the big screen, does the Tab S10 Ultra justify its price tag? Let’s consider features that you won’t find anywhere else. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is water resistant, like all of Samsung’s recent Galaxy Tab S tablets (including the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, if you need a cheaper, water-resistant tablet). If you’re going to use your tablet in the rain, or in the pool, or if you just want to doomscroll in the bathtub, the Galaxy Tab S is your only choice.

Otherwise, Samsung’s key advantage is, surprisingly, software. Samsung does a much better job with tablet software than Apple. It’s easier to multi-task, open multiple windows, and use your tablet with an external monitor and keyboard. Samsung even does a great job integrating its tablet with your Samsung phone and Galaxy Book laptop, if you have recent Samsung devices.

Image 1 of 3

Drawing a truck with Sketch to Image (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Image 2 of 3

Here is Galaxy AI's watercolor version of my truck (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Image 3 of 3

The robust Galaxy AI settings menu (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

All of Samsung’s tablets are good at multitasking, you don’t need to spend $1,1199.99 / £1,199 / AU$2,049 to get this software experience. Even the Tab Ultra’s display isn’t the advantage it was in the past. Apple’s latest iPad Pro tablets pack the most advanced OLED I’ve ever seen on a tablet. It’s thinner, brighter, and sharper looking than Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, even if it’s smaller.

Samsung gives you an S Pen with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, while Apple makes you pay $129 / £129 / AU$219 for an Apple Pencil. That’s a nice bonus, but it doesn’t justify Samsung’s high price.

Apple gives you a desktop-class chip, while Samsung includes a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset that is… not bad? It’s good at gaming, but not as powerful as Apple’s M4 in the iPad Pro, and it doesn’t even top the Apple M2 in the iPad Air, except in a few graphics benchmarks.

Apple gives you a better, more advanced display, a thinner tablet, and incredible power. Unless you need a water-resistant tablet, or if your games are only available on Android, it’s hard to justify the price tag for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. The Tab S9 FE is a much better buy for those benefits.

• Value: 3/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: specs

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

It was a shocking move for Samsung to include a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset in its Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. The last Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which was the same processor used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra phone, launched the same year. This year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra phone uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and that’s what I expected on the premiere tablet.

the MediaTek Dimensity 9300... falls short on processing performance compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon

Why use MediaTek instead of Qualcomm or a Samsung Exynos chip? My guess is that Samsung wants to diversify its chip supply, and the Tab S10 Ultra is a safe place to stick the first processor from a new partnership. [Full disclosure: I worked on Samsung’s PR team from 2011 to 2017 and was never involved in chip decisions, I only know what other technology journalists know.]

Samsung will tell you that the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 is exceptional at gaming, and it wanted this tablet to appeal to gamers. While MediaTek does win some benchmark races on the graphics side of Future Labs testing, it falls short on processing performance compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, and it’s generations behind Apple’s M4 chipset when it comes to processing power.

I’ll talk about whether the MediaTek 9300 delivered on that gaming promise below in the Performance section (spoiler: it did, but it’s still a mobile chipset).

Otherwise, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has an impressive list of specs. It comes with plenty of RAM to start, 12GB, and you can boost that to 16GB if you buy an upgraded storage model.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra also uses Wi-Fi 7, which the iPad Pro still lacks. If you have the latest networking equipment installed and you want to take advantage, the Galaxy Tab is ready.

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: display

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Massive 14.6-inch screen is a new level of tablet bigness
• Samsung thankfully sticks with Wacom tech for the S Pen

You can’t find a bigger, better display on a tablet than the huge 14.6-inch OLED screen on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. If you are considering a tablet as a laptop replacement, the Tab S10 Ultra gives you more screen space than a 14-inch Macbook Pro, though finding the right keyboard could be tricky.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab gives you much more screen real-estate than a similarly-priced iPad, but is it still a better display? The latest iPad Pro uses an OLED screen that is more sharp, with 264 pixel-per-inch density, compared to 239 ppi on Samsung’s display. Is that enough to notice? Not really, but bragging rights are important at this price.

Apple’s latest iPad Pro is also much brighter than the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which makes a difference if you work outside, though the iPad Pro can’t handle a rain storm like the Galaxy Tab.

Samsung still refuses to support Dolby Vision on its displays, and you can spot the difference side-by-side if you compare, say, Netflix movies on an iPad Pro and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. There is HDR10+ support, but not the Dolby HDR video standard.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I’m happy to see Samsung keeps using Wacom’s electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology for its S Pen. I’ve seen a few mobile manufacturers switch to their own technology recently. That usually means a battery and an added expense. Samsung’s S Pen has a battery, but it’s for additional features like Bluetooth and the motion sensor; the pen still works without a charge if you just want to draw.

• Display: 5/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: design

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Water resistant design is unique among premium tablets
• Same size and shape as Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

With a tablet this big, the design should get out of the way of the screen and the viewing experience, so I’m not expecting much. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has some design highlights but nothing special. I like the cool, tech-y antenna lines on the back that give it a futuristic sheen, but otherwise it’s just a big slab.

There are four speakers hidden around the edges of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, so things get loud when you hold the tablet in landscape mode for movie watching. The camera is also centered for landscape viewing, as it should be.

The only buttons on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra are the power and volume buttons, and Samsung has managed to screw up the volume keys. You’ll need to remember which side is up, because the Galaxy Tab won’t help.

Here’s what I mean: an Apple iPad is smart enough to know that however you are holding the tablet, pressing the volume rocker button on top should turn up the volume. If you hold the iPad upside down, it flips the orientation of the volume keys.

The Galaxy Tab has fixed Up and Down volume keys, and if you hold the tablet upside down, you need to press down to turn the volume Up. If this seems hard to explain, it’s even worse to use in real life.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you plan on using the S Pen and not losing the S Pen, I highly recommend buying Samsung’s back cover. It has a nice garage that holds the S Pen in the right spot to charge wirelessly against the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. I wish there was a proper silo like there is on the Galaxy S24 Ultra phone, but that would mean a much smaller S Pen, so I’ll accept the trade off.

I don’t recommend Samsung’s keyboard case, and I’m not sure there is a great option to turn the Galaxy S10 Ultra into a proper laptop replacement, which is a huge miss on Samsung’s part. Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which costs less than Samsung’s Keyboard Cover with a trackpad, is a much more premium accessory. You can lift the iPad Pro by grasping the front of the Magic Keyboard, while Samsung’s expensive keyboard cover feels cheap and flimsy, with keys that are too shallow.

• Design: 4/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: software

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Still the best tablet software for multitasking
• No significant enhancements for gaming

Samsung’s One UI software, running on top of Android 14, is packed with features, and maybe overstuffed for a smaller smartphone screen, but on a big tablet Samsung lets you cut loose. You can run up to four windows on screen at once, and it’s easy to tile and arrange windows by dragging them where you want them. You can open apps or conversations in pop-up bubbles, and we haven’t even got to the pop-up note taking and screen writing with the S Pen.

While Apple pays lip service to multitasking on the iPad Pro, Samsung really makes it easy to do two or more things at once. I could research on the web while taking notes in Google Docs, or chat on a webcam meeting on one side, play a game on the other, and doomscroll in a floating window.

Taking notes (left) while surfing the web (right) while watching Skeleton Crew (bottom left) all at once (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

While Samsung’s operating system is great, I’m worried that a big, expensive tablet like this is let down by the Android ecosystem. What are the premium apps that require so much screen size and power? Well, maybe not power, since the MediaTek processor isn’t exactly a powerhouse. But it's pretty good at gaming, and Samsung has said this tablet is aimed at gaming enthusiasts.

So, where is the gaming software? When you buy an Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, our best gaming phone, you don’t just get top performance. You get a suite of software tools to help you control your game, tweak your system settings, and stream your sessions over your favorite social network. That’s what it takes to call your device a gaming device. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra was great for playing games, but it’s not an excellent gaming device.

• Software: 4/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: performance

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Good enough for Android, but not competitive with the iPad Pro
• There better be a Snapdragon 8 Elite in the next Tab Ultra

It’s a very weird time for Samsung to release a Galaxy Tab Ultra with a relatively underpowered MediaTek chipset. Apple offers the iPad Pro tablet with an Apple M4 chip that's more powerful than most Windows laptop computers. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra doesn’t come close to that level of performance.

Then we have Qualcomm, which followed up one of its best chips in memory, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, with a chipset that could truly be a revolutionary step forward, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite. The latter wasn’t available in time for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra launch, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has been the most powerful chip in smartphones over the past year. Samsung should know, that’s the chip inside the Galaxy S24.

For the same price, you can have an Apple M4-powered iPad Pro. Heck, you could buy a Samsung Galaxy Book 4 360 laptop with a Snapdragon X processor inside and you’d get more in just about every way for the same price. Why pay for a big, mid-range Android tablet when you can have a premium convertible laptop or professional-strength iPad?

Multi-window is as easy as dragging an app to where you want it (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If the answer is Android games, then the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will satisfy hardcore gamers with its performance, but I wonder if a gigantic tablet is what the mobile gaming world wants.

Many games won’t work with a joystick. Genshin Impact, for instance, works with a joystick on the iPad, but not on Android tablets. That means I need to hold the huge tablet and manipulate the controls that were meant for a mobile phone.

There are quite a few games like this, and while I enjoyed playing games with my Xbox controller connected, I had a hard time manipulating onscreen controls while holding the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Don’t get me wrong, I love the huge size of this tablet, but for some tasks it simply might be too big.

• Performance: 3/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: battery

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Less battery life than last generation
• Much less battery time than an iPad Pro

Battery life on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra was, frankly, unacceptable. While the tablet lasted through most of a work day, I usually kept it plugged in or charging when I was working at a desk because the big display can chug through battery time.

Our Future Labs tests report the same. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra performed worse on our battery tests than the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Both tablets came in behind Apple’s iPad Pro, but the Tab S9 Ultra lasted around 9.5 hours and the Tab S10 lasted just over 9 hours. A small difference, but battery life should never, ever go down year over year.

Four days?! Not likely (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In comparison, an iPad Pro 13-inch will give you almost 15 hours in the same test. That’s a huge loss for Samsung, and battery life needs to be a priority on the next generation of Galaxy Tab S devices.

I have to imagine that a Tab S10 Ultra with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 would have offered better battery life, based on tests I’ve seen comparing the Gen 2 and Gen 3 platforms. Too bad Samsung didn’t use that chipset here.

• Battery: 2/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra? Buy it if…

You play a lot of Android games
If you’re playing a lot of games on your Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra offers impressive gaming performance and the best big screen for gaming.View Deal

You want a big office tablet that’s easy to use
An Android tablet is much simpler than a Windows tablet, and you have your work accounts loaded, just like with your phone. Go ahead, work on the Tab.View Deal

You want to draw and play and have fun
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a big tablet for fun, indoors and outdoors, for doodling and gaming and playing with AI. Don’t take it too seriously.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You need a serious productivity tool
If you need real power and performance, and real desktop apps, you might need an iPad Pro or iPad Air.View Deal

You can get a deal on the Tab S9 Ultra
This is almost the same tablet as last year, so if you find the Tab S9 Ultra for much cheaper, just buy it instead.View Deal

You want a laptop replacement
The Tab S10 Ultra doesn’t have any great keyboard options to help you replace a laptop, though you can use any desktop keyboard and mouse instead of Samsung’s accessories.View Deal

Also consider

Not convinced by the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra? Here are a few other options to consider:

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch
It costs a bit more, but Apple’s iPad Pro 13-inch is more powerful, much thinner and lighter, and even brighter than Samsung’s Tab S10 Ultra.

Read our full iPad Pro 13-inch review

Apple iPad Air 13-inch
The Air is Apple’s mid-range iPad, but it is still more powerful than Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, and it lasts longer on a charge.

Read our full Apple iPad Air 13-inch review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
If you really just want a big Samsung display that’s water resistant and packed with OneUI features, the Tab S9 FE might be enough, and it’s battery life can’t be beat.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

I have been using and reviewing tablets since the very first Samsung Galaxy Tab 7-inch tablet and the original Apple iPad, and I use tablets every day in my personal life and work environment. I carry two or more tablets when I travel for work and personal business, and I travel every month, often every few weeks.

I used the Galaxy Tab 10 Ultra for two months as my primary work tablet, using it when I traveled for business and as a second screen at my office when I was working. I loaded it with my work accounts and apps, including Slack, Google Meet, Airtable, and Vampire Survivors.

I tested the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s durability by dunking it in my sink filled with water and rinsing it repeatedly. I used the Tab S10 Ultra with Samsung’s keyboard with trackpad cover, as well as with my own SteelSeries USB-C keyboard, and a Bluetooth mouse. I also connected the Tab Ultra to my Dell monitor.

I played many games on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, mostly using an Xbox controller with Bluetooth. I played Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, Vampire Survivors, and games from my Xbox Series X console over Wi-Fi.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra was also tested and benchmarked in Future Labs independently. Future Labs uses benchmark software like Geekbench and Crossmark, as well as proprietary tests for color gamut and battery rundown times. Future Labs runs the same tests on every tablet to compare them equally.

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
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First reviewed January 2025

• Turntable with Bluetooth streaming output
• Dual 50W wireless speakers with multiple inputs
• £299 (about £366 / AU$588) – US and Aus pricing not confirmed

If you're looking for an affordable all-in-one turntable system, MIXX may have just the thing. Its new Analog System 5 is a Bluetooth turntable with powerful wireless speakers included, and a decently low price.

The system is built around a turntable with an aluminum tonearm and an Audio-Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge, and it's bundled with a pair of 50W speakers.

Because it's Bluetooth, you can also stream to other speakers or to a set of Bluetooth headphones. And the speakers are also designed to be used with other inputs for maximum musical mileage.

(Image credit: MIXX) MIXX Analog System 5: key features and pricing

The belt-driven turntable plays both 33 and 45rpm records, and it also has a pitch control for extra speed adjustment – something you don't usually see in affordable all-in-ones. If the quality holds up, this really could rival the best turntables for those getting into the hobby, because it's such a simple and tempting package.

The speakers are Bluetooth and also have line-in, optical, coaxial and USB inputs. That's handy if you're short of space: the same speakers can stream from your smartphone or get audio from other sources as well as playing your vinyl records.

There are two color options here, white or black, and the UK and Ireland prices are £299 and €299 respectively. You can buy now from Amazon in the UK and Harvey Norman in Ireland, or directly from MIXX.

This record player set will also come to the US and Australia, but pricing and exact availability hasn't yet been confirmed – but we'll update you when we've got it.

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Pro-Kremlin social media accounts and outlets have been spreading a baseless narrative that mansions belonging to Ukrainian officials burned down in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: Mario Tama)

• Security researcher finds large unsecured online database belonging to Willow Pays
• The database contained plenty of sensitive customer information
• It is now locked down, but users should still be cautious

Bill payment platform Willow Pays kept a huge database full of sensitive customer information unprotected online available to anyone who knew where to look, an expert has claimed.

Researcher Jeremiah Fowler, known for hunting down misconfigured and non-password-protected databases on the internet, revealed he recently discovered a database containing more than 240,000 records.

“There were folders inside the database indicating bills, mailing lists, account inconsistencies, repayment schedules, screenshots, settings, and snapshots,” he said. “In a limited sampling of the exposed documents, I saw records that included names, email addresses, credit limits, and other internal information. One single spreadsheet document contained the details of 56,864 individuals, indicating if they were prospects, active customers, or blocked accounts.”

Missing details

Soon after, Fowler was able to attribute the database to Willow Pays, a financial service which helps users manage their bills by paying them upfront. The service allows users to repay the amount in four interest-free installments, making it easier to handle expenses. This service also supports building credit by ensuring timely repayments.

Fowler reached out to Willow Pays, which locked down the database soon after. However, the company did not reply to his emails, and did not say if it manages the database in-house, or if the job was outsourced to a third-party. Furthermore, we don’t know for how long the database remained unlocked, or if any malicious actors accessed it before Fowler did.

Misconfigured databases remain one of the most common causes of data leaks and spills on the internet. Many security researchers are warning that companies do not properly understand the shared security model of most cloud service providers these days, and that they mistakenly place too much trust on them, instead of protecting their assets themselves.

Via Website Planet

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• Here's a list of the best antivirus tools on offer
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Polar Vantage M3: One minute review

Polar has long been a trusted name in the fitness world, known for its accurate heart rate monitors, its best running watches and fitness tracking gear aimed at athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The Vantage M3 aims to deliver on that reputation, combining a stunningly bright and vibrant AMOLED display, accurate dual-band GPS and advanced health metrics like wrist-based ECG and skin temperature tracking. It’s packed with tools to help you train smarter and recover better — all for a mid-range price. Along with the Vantage V3 and the Polar Grit X2 Pro, Polar is fully embracing the transition from duller memory-in-pixel displays towards AMOLED screens.

While the Vantage M3 gets a lot right, it’s not without its faults. The setup process was painfully slow and glitchy during my testing, and the companion app, Polar Flow, feels like it’s stuck in the past despite offering lots of detailed metrics. Add to that the lack of third-party app support, and the M3 starts to feel a bit limited compared to more versatile competitors.

That said, for fitness-first users who don’t mind skipping smartwatch extras, the Vantage M3 performs generally well. The clear and sharp AMOLED display makes stats easy to read even during sunny outdoor runs. And features like Recovery Pro and Training Load Pro add meaningful insights, while dual-band GPS ensures accurate route tracking in most conditions.

While the Polar Vantage M3 is a good option for those who prioritize health and fitness tracking, it’s not the most versatile wearable out there. Its smartwatch functionality is rather lacking, as there’s no app store, voice assistant or NFC for payments. Garmin, which also offers a stripped-back training experience, at least as the Connect IQ store. In 2025, this limited functionality feels outdated, especially compared to other smartwatch options on the market right now.

Nevertheless, it’s dependable for serious fitness fans, especially for outdoor workouts which require GPS, and is packed with useful tools for training and recovery. Just don’t expect it to deliver the kind of all-in-one experience you’d get from more feature-rich alternatives like the Apple Watch or Garmin’s top-end models. If you can overlook these shortcomings and focus purely on its fitness chops, the Vantage M3 still has plenty to offer.

Polar Vantage M3: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / Lee Bell)

• Price: £349 / $399 / $599AU
• Release date: October 2024
• Colors: Night Black and Greige Sand

The Polar Vantage M3 hit shelves in October 2024, priced at $399 / £349 / AU$599, placing it in the mid-range fitness watch category. It’s available in two understated colors, Night Black and Greige Sand, which should appeal to those who prefer a minimal look.

While it’s not the cheapest option on the market, it does offer solid value when compared to Polar’s higher-end models like the Vantage V3 (£519 / $599.95 / $899AU) and Grit X2 Pro ($749.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,099.99). For its price, you get premium features like dual-band GPS, offline maps and advanced health tracking — all without stretching into the luxury price tier.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Polar Vantage M3: Design

(Image credit: Future / Lee Bell)

• Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear
• Stunning AMOLED display with crisp resolution
• Silicone strap is a little stiff and thus tricky to readjust

When it comes to design, the Polar Vantage M3 balances both style and practicality rather well. At just 53g including the strap, the 44mm case is lightweight enough that you’ll barely notice it’s there, whether you’re hitting the gym or dashing out to run errands. Its slim casing size means it sits snugly on your wrist, staying put even during more intense movements, so you don’t have to worry about it shifting around or coming loose mid-workout.

The stainless-steel bezel is a nice touch that gives it a more sophisticated and hard-wearing edge, and the subtle studs act as a helpful guide when you’re swiping through the touchscreen. However, the plastic body does slightly detract from the premium feel, especially compared to rivals that use more robust materials, like Garmin’s more premium models. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does leave you wishing for a little extra polish.

Next, let’s talk about the watch’s display, which comes in a 1.28-inch AMOLED variety — easily one of the Vantage M3’s standout features. With its crisp 416x416 resolution and a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, it’s vibrant and sharp — which will be why I found it made your stats easy to read in just about any lighting conditions. That said, it is slightly smaller in size compared to some of Polar’s pricier models, which can make some data screens feel a little cramped, especially when you’re mid-workout and glancing at metrics on the go.

The display’s Gorilla Glass 3 coating also offers scratch protection, which held up well during my testing. The five physical buttons are a welcome addition alongside the touchscreen, offering an easy way to navigate menus during sweaty or gloved activities. However, they could be more tactile; Garmin’s chunkier controls, for example, feel more satisfying to use.

Nevertheless, the silicone strap is soft and comfortable overall. Its buckle-and-loop system can be fiddly at times, often needing more patience than it should to fasten securely. But on the bright side, the 22mm standard size means you can easily swap it for an alternative that better suits your needs.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Polar Vantage M3: Features

(Image credit: Future / Lee Bell)

• Packed with fitness and recovery tools
• Limited smartwatch functionality leaves you wanting more

The Polar Vantage M3 is built for fitness enthusiasts, and its suite of features backs this up. From wrist-based ECG and SpO2 tracking to detailed recovery metrics like SleepWise and Training Load Pro, it’s clear to see that health and performance tracking are this watch’s primary focus. It boasts tools for just about every aspect of your fitness journey — features that work really together and delivering insights that can genuinely help you train smarter and recover better.

While the watch’s fitness features deliver, its smartwatch functionality falls short. Sure, you can read notifications and control your music, but that’s about it. There’s no app store for adding third-party tools, no voice assistant to help you navigate tasks hands-free and no NFC for payments support.

It’s surprising, especially in 2025, where even budget wearables offer more comprehensive options. And so, for anyone hoping for a more versatile device that blends fitness and day-to-day convenience, the Vantage M3 feels like it’s missing the mark somewhat.

However, the essentials are solid. Syncing the watch to the Polar Flow app allows you to view all your training metrics in one place. While the app itself isn’t the most intuitive or visually pleasing, it does get the job done — albeit with a bit of patience.

• Features score: 3 / 5

Polar Vantage M3: Performance

• Dual-band GPS is accurate but not flawless
• Metrics not quite as precise as expected
• Around five days battery life with mixed use

The Vantage M3’s dual-band GPS is a solid performer most of the time. It connects quickly and provides accurate data during runs, bike rides and hikes. However, it’s not flawless. In dense urban areas surrounded by tall buildings, the GPS can wobble slightly, deviating from your true route. It’s not a disaster by any means, but when you’re comparing it to premium models like the Garmin Fenix 8 series, for instance, the difference is quite noticeable.

Heart rate monitoring is another area where the M3 performs well, though it’s not perfect. The optical sensor offers consistent readings during steady-state workouts, but it struggles to keep up during sudden bursts of activity, such as sprints or high-intensity intervals. If you’re someone who relies heavily on accurate heart rate data for training, this might be a minor frustration. Step tracking, meanwhile, was less impressive. It often overcounted my steps by a few hundred compared to other devices I tested, which could annoy anyone who considers precise metrics as paramount.

As for battery life, it’s decent but not groundbreaking. With moderate use, Polar says you’ll get five to six days out of it, or about 24 hours in GPS mode. I found that with mixed use - tracking a workout once a day with GPS, general step counting and sleep tracking - it was just short of that, at about five days. It’s enough for most casual users, but endurance athletes might find themselves charging more often than they’d like. On the plus side, charging is relatively quick and painless, thanks to the USB-A proprietary cable included in the box.

Essentially, the Polar Vantage M3 excels as a training tool. Its recovery features, like Training Load Pro, are genuinely useful for improving your workouts, and the clear and sharp AMOLED display makes interacting with the watch nothing but a pleasure. Whether you’re mid-run in the sun or checking your progress under some intense floodlights, I found the screen performs brilliantly overall. But when you consider the price tag, it’s hard to ignore the areas where it falls short. For £349 / $399 / $599AU, you’d expect a more high-end experience, particularly when it comes to its smartwatch features. Still, if you’re looking for a fitness-first device, it’s a trustworthy option, but it’s not the standout it could have been.

• Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Polar Vantage M3: Scorecard

(Image credit: Future / Lee Bell) Polar Vantage M3: Should I buy? Buy it if...

You want detailed training insights

Polar’s tools like Recovery Pro and Training Load Pro offer genuinely useful, detailed feedback.View Deal

You love vibrant displays

The AMOLED screen is sharp, colorful and easy to read in most lighting.View Deal

You’re after a lightweight, comfortable design

It’s great for all-day wear, even during intense workouts.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need robust smartwatch features

There’s no app store, voice assistant or payment support.View Deal

You hate clunky apps

Polar Flow isn’t the most user-friendly companion app.View Deal

You’re a sucker for tracking accuracy

Step counts can be overly generous, which might bother data purists.View Deal

Also consider

Garmin Forerunner 255 (£299)

This cheaper option from Garmin is known for its excellent GPS and training tools, plus there’s a stronger focus on smartwatch features like NFC payments as well as app support.

Check out our full Garmin Forerunner 255 reviewView Deal

COROS Pace 3 (£199)

An affordable alternative with great battery life, reliable tracking and a focus on performance. While it lacks an AMOLED screen, it excels in durability and value for money.

Check out our full COROS Pace 3 reviewView Deal

Apple Watch SE 2 (£269)

For those iPhone users who want a better balance between fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality. While it doesn’t have advanced recovery tools, its sleek design and app ecosystem make it a top choice that won’t break the bank.

Check out our full Apple Watch SE 2 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I wore the Polar Vantage M3 daily for over two weeks, testing its features during various activities, including running, cycling and yoga. I used its dual-band GPS for outdoor workouts and tracked recovery metrics with Polar’s app tools. I also evaluated its smartwatch functionality by syncing it to a smartphone, using it for notifications and assessing app integration. To test durability, I wore it during both high-intensity workouts and casual everyday use, paying attention to comfort and battery performance.

First reviewed: January 2025

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• EA Sports FC 25's latest gameplay refresh update has been released
• Title Update 8 is "the most significant mid-season gameplay overhaul" yet
• "Major updates" to core gameplay systems have been added based on player feedback

EA has released the patch notes for EA Sports FC 25's latest gameplay refresh update.

The mid-season update, or Title Update 8, is now live across PC and console and is "the most significant mid-season gameplay overhaul we've ever made", based on player feedback, according to EA.

With this update, EA has implemented "major updates" to core gameplay systems that affect matches, like passing, shooting, goalkeeping, and defending.

It's also made gameplay "more offensively fluid" to enable more control over the ball, reduced the frequency of tacklebacks, and AI interceptions, as well as addressed issues like defenders catching up to dribblers too often.

As detailed in the lengthy patch notes, Title Update 8 has now made balance adjustments to attacking and defending, and now made them more "effective and fun".

Some of the ways this was achieved were by improving AI teammates' attacking run quality when trying to beat the offside line, increasing intelligence of attacking and supporting runs made by AI teammates, and improving the effectiveness of Inside and Advanced Forwards.

Offensive players will also find that they can now operate in attacking spaces near others better, instead of stopping their runs, and players are now able to provide quicker support when they are familiar with their roles.

The patch notes also go further into detail about the aforementioned gameplay system tweaks, which EA said were added because it wanted to "reward intelligent and quick thinking passing plays".

For example, the speed and accuracy of normal Ground Passes have now been slightly increased, along with the effectiveness of Semi Assisted Through Passes.

"While some of these changes might sound small in a vacuum, when combined with other passing changes they are designed to enable players to move the ball easier across the pitch," EA explained.

Among many other adjustments and bug fixes, players can also find that the accuracy and shot speed from inside the box have been increased, while goalkeepers' handling of near-post shots has been changed after discovering they could sometimes incorrectly step away from the near post in tight angle shooting situations.

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• Asus will launch the ROG NUC 2025 this year, using Nvidia's RTX 5080 laptop GPU
• Its laptop GPU will utilize 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM
• It’s expected to have a high cost compared to the current ROG NUC 970

Nvidia's RTX 5000 series of graphics cards were officially unveiled at CES 2025 earlier this month, and while we don’t yet know when the RTX 5080 laptop GPU will start appearing in gaming laptops, Asus has confirmed one of its next-gen mini-gaming PC will be powered by Team Green's new hardware.

As reported by Edge Up Asus, the Asus ROG NUC 2025 mini gaming PC will utilize Nvidia's RTX 5080 laptop GPU alongside the Intel Core Ultra 9 (Series 2) ARL-HX processor boasting 24 cores and 24 threads. This is a build for a top-tier mini-gaming PC, which should outdo the likes of Apple's M4 Mac mini when it comes to gaming, but likely at a high cost.

The current ROG NUC comes packed with RTX 4000 series GPUs, and this year's model will step performance up to a new level - we'll be seeing benchmarks of the desktop RTX 5080 and 5090 series GPUs at the end of this month, with the laptop GPUs likely coming a short time after.

(Image credit: Edge Up/Asus) What can we expect in terms of its pricing?

I've never been a betting man, but I'm almost certain that the new Asus ROG NUC will be an expensive offering with configurations now offering up to the RTX 5080 and 64GB of DDR5 RAM - 2023's NUC 970 utilizes the RTX 4070 with a $1,399 / £1,629 starting price, so expect this year's model to be around the same figure… or even much higher.

Compared to the M4 Mac mini, the ROG NUC 2025 will excel in terms of performance, but this doesn’t mean it’s a straight knock out for the NUC. The M4 Mac mini will undoubtedly be much cheaper as it starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999, and the performance it offers at that price is hard to beat.

A more realistic comparison between Apple's Mac devices compared to the upcoming ROG NUC is the M4 MacBook Pro, especially the model that comes with the M4 Pro chip with a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, along with 24GB of unified memory, but of course, it isn't a mini-PC. Even with this, it would still lose out as Asus' system runs Windows 11, while the MacBook uses macOS, and Apple still has a long way to go with games on its operating system in terms of optimizations (especially at higher resolutions).

The ROG NUC will also benefit from Nvidia's new DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation, which will drastically improve performance across multiple games, besides the GPU's raw performance alone - so while it will be an expensive mini-PC, it will still likely be a better choice for gaming over the M4 Mac mini and the MacBook Pro.

Should you buy it though? I would say no, as it will likely be far too expensive compared to much cheaper standard-size gaming PCs that are powerful enough for smooth performance.

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• Researchers spotted hackers creating phishing pages on Google Sites
• The pages are then advertised on Google Ads
• Victims are locked out of their accounts, which are either used or sold

Cybercriminals have found a way to abuse and impersonate Google, run malicious ads on the search engine’s ad network, and steal login credentials from people looking to promote their businesses.

The warning comes from cybersecurity researchers at Malwarebytes, which warned users to be careful even when clicking on ads coming from the Google itself.

The threat actors start by creating a fake Google Ads homepage on Google Sites, the company’s website builder that also provides users with a Google URL (something like https://sites.google.com/view/sitename) - then, they create a fake ad, communicating a promotion or a new deal, and place it on the Google Ads network.

Three threat actors

"Indeed, you cannot show a URL in an ad unless your landing page (final URL) matches the same domain name. While that is a rule meant to protect abuse and impersonation, it is one that is very easy to get around," explained Jérôme Segura, Senior Director of Research at Malwarebytes.

"Looking back at the ad and the Google Sites page, we see that this malicious ad does not strictly violate the rule since sites.google.com uses the same root domains ads ads.google.com. In other words, it is allowed to show this URL in the ad, therefore making it indistinguishable from the same ad put out by Google LLC."

Victims who fall for the trick and click on the ad are redirected to a web page asking them to log in. Once they do, the phishing page collects their login credentials, unique identifiers, and cookies, and relays the data to the attackers, who then log in from a separate Google account.

The final step is to lock the victim out of their account and use it to fund additional campaigns, purchase other services, and more.

Malwarebytes believes at least three threat actors are currently deploying this tactic: a Brazilian group, an Asian-based attacker, and a group from somewhere in Eastern Europe.

Via BleepingComputer

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Outgoing FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has rejected petitions to rebuke four local TV stations. She says they were efforts to punish broadcast networks' coverage of presidential politics.

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Ruben Amorim's Red Devils look to build on last weekend's big FA Cup win against Arsenal.

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We're keeping Wyze cams off our best lists for now -- but we're also keeping an eye on the progress the company is making.

The end is nigh for TikTok...or is it? The ultra-popular social media platform stands on the precipice of a US ban that would wipe it from app stores and quickly make it inoperable on iPhones and Androids. 150 million users could lose access to audiences around the world and five million TikTok businesses could vaporize in an instant.

But it's not that cut and dried. Last-minute saviors could arise, even in the form of those who first sought to banish the Chinese-owned app.

A little background here before we dive into the minute-by-minute machinations that hold TikTok's future in the balance.

TikTok is a nearly decade-old social media platform that, in the US, started its life as Music.ly and was primarily a lip-syncing app (people made videos dancing and lip-syncing to their favorite pop songs). The app was bought by ByteDance, a Chinese software company, which quickly combined it with its own social media app and renamed it TikTok (in China, the app is called Douyin).

Not many people initially knew or cared about TikTok besides the teens who had previously used Music.ly. The Pandemic changed all that, though, as families were forced indoors and, with little else to do, turned to TikTok as both a creative outlet and digital community builder. The app's popularity exploded, and it became a cultural phenomenon.

It was also around this time that US relations with China soured, and concerns about cyber espionage grew. A Chinese-owned app in the hands of virtually every American suddenly seemed like a very bad idea. At issue was the Chinese government's open access to all technology and data of any company operating within its borders.

Then President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2020 to ban TikTok in the US. The company responded by moving all data and operations related to the US version of the app inside the US. Oracle would host the data, and US-based employees would manage virtually everything else.

That was not enough, though, and eventually, President Joe Biden signed a law setting a timeline to force TikTok to sell by January 19, 2025, or be banned in the US.

Now, the final hours are winding down, but here's where things get interesting. We're about to give you the latest on TikTok's fate in the US. Stick with this live blog for all the breaking developments.

Biden as rescuer?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Because TikTok's ban is set to take effect on January 19th, the final day of President Joe Biden's term and a day before President Trump takes office, there's been some confusion (and maybe concern) about which US leader would have the final say.

Trump has recently signaled he might be in favor of keeping TikTok alive in the US. Biden hasn't said much recently about the issue, but now his administration is signaling, if not a change of heart, an interest in a slightly different ban scenario.

According to a report on NBC News, Biden's office might no longer want TikTok to go dark on the 19th. There may be an interest in deferring the final decision to Trump when he takes office.

The report, however, then all but scuttles that hope, quoting one official who told them, "We are not considering deferring enforcement...Statutorily, we don’t believe we have the authority to do that."

In other words, no one knows what's going to happen on Sunday.

#TikTokRefugees

(Image credit: Future)

TikTok refugees are already planting flags on what they think are safer shores. Many have joined RedNote, another Chinese app that shares many of TikTok's features, but adds in Chinese language controls and content for good measure.

I wrote about the phenomenon here and have since counseled many that, while this app looks like fun, it has even less chance of surviving than TikTok. As a true Chinese app, it has none of TikTok's US data protections. The same goes for Lemon8, which is also owned by TikTok but does not necessarily run in the US.

For the moment, TikTokers seems reluctant to move over to US-based options like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. They may soon have no choice, though.

Things we can't control

I've spent the past few weeks trying to get someone at TikTok to go on the record about what's about to happen and how the US-based team is preparing. No one is ready to talk.

I did, however, attend a TikTok cocktail party after a TikTok 5th annual What's Next Trend Report session at CES 2025. As I hobnobbed with various TikTok execs, they all expressed the same mood: this is beyond our control. They were cheerful, weirdly positive, and focused on the future, as uncertain as it is.

Most like to focus on the current and continuing positive impact Tiktok has had on countless businesses, from startups to long-established ones. They have plans for them and are still building tools to support them.

As Sofia Hernandez, Global Head of Business Marketing for TikTok said in a release, "In 2024, we saw brands push creative limits, lean into trends, and connect with their communities in powerful ways, but 2025 is set to take it even further.”

I wonder if any are sending frantic notes to ByteDance headquarters begging them to sell the company (ByteDance has always said it has no interest in a sale) but none of that anxiety was in evidence that evening. They're just doing what they can now and will react to the changes if and when they come.

Kind of like the 150 million US-based TikTok users

A Beast enters the arena

(Image credit: Future)

YouTube showman and over-caffeinated philanthropist Mr. Beast (real name James Stephen Donaldson) has produced several TikToks this week saying that he is buying TikTok. The YouTuber is well known for stunts and this may simply be another one.

As I noted earlier ByteDance has never put the platform up for sale but Donaldson appears undaunted.

@mrbeast

♬ original sound - MrBeast A special guest

TikTok CEO Shou Chew (Image credit: Bryan van der Beek/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Guess who's coming to President-elect Trump's inauguration on January 20? TikTok CEO Shou Chew has an invite, that's at least according to sources speaking to NBC News.

If Chew attends the ceremony and festivities, he'll also likely have some sit-down talks with Trump about the future of the platform. Chew's arrival a day after the ban takes effect might be problematic but then there is a chance that President Joe Biden might issue an exec order stay of execution as he's walking out the White House doors.

It's a lot of moving pieces and it's still unclear what Trump's invite means and how he really views TikTok. He may still demand a sale to a US company but just give TikTok more time to do it.

Senator Markey has other ideas

The most remarkable thing about the looming TikTok ban is its almost universal support across the political spectrum. This appeared to be the only thing Democrats and Republicans agreed on, plus it had the full support of the White House.

In these sharply divided times (at least in the US), no one agrees about anything – except of course about the "dangers" of TikTok.

There is, however, an almost lone voice of dissent. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey has been a staunch Tiktok defender and a relatively new on-platform creator. Yesterday, Se. Markey introduced the "Extend the TikTok Deadline Act" in the Senate. No telling if the bill will go anywhere but you've gotta love the guy for flying into the wind.

@senmarkey

♬ Love You So - The King Khan & BBQ Show Leave it to...Trump?

Incoming President Donald Trump (Image credit: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Incoming US President Donald Trump has already made his newfound adoration for TikTok clear but now we have evidence that he wants to take an active role in saving the platform.

According to the BBC One of Trump's top advisors, Congressman Mike Waltz, says Trump will step in if the US Supreme Court decides to uphold the ban (we're still awaiting its decision).

Trump's actions will hinge on a clause in the law that allows TikTok a 90-day extension if they've made significant progress in a sale. That determination may be up to Trump who could on Monday after he's inaugurated make that a priority.

That action, though, will come after the ban takes effect. Does TikTok just hold tight and flout the ban for 24 hours or so and wait for Trump to make the save? Third-party partners might not be comfortable with that. They don't want to end up paying fines, after all.

Again...so many questions.

A different kind of doom-scroll

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

I don't know about the rest of you but my TikTok usage has skyrocketed in recent days. I think I'm subconsciously trying to consume all of it before it's gone.

This means I am seeing every single goodbye. The angry ones (a lot), the funny ones (a close second), and the heartbreaking sad ones. People crying, wondering if they can rebuild the community elsewhere.

When I talk about TikTok disappearing, a common refrain is, "So what, people will just go elsewhere and soon forget TikTok ever existed." They're only partially correct. It is easy to join Instagram and post Reels, or do the same with YouTube Shorts, but community and audience building takes considerable effort and time, sometimes years.

I think back to when Vine (the 6-second video platform bought by Twitter) shut down. It was devastating and, yes, many former Viners ended up on TikTok but it took years for it to feel like a true – and even better – replacement.

If and when TikTok goes dark in the US, there will be a period of mourning. So allow me these last scrolls; I want to have something to remember TikTok by.

On brand

(Image credit: Future)

If you can't keep making TikToks (eventually) you make hay, and by hay, I mean a bit of marketing magic. I noticed at least one savvy brand jumping into the TikTok ban fray with a short but clever take.

Wendy's, the fast food burger chain, hopped on X (formerly Twitter) with a brief post about the state of two tech franchises.

"Can’t believe we’re getting TikTok ban before gta 6," posted Wendy's referring to both the impending ban and our very long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6.

According to the latest reports, the fast-paced open-world game won't arrive until much later this year. That's 12 years after the last edition. That long wait is what makes Wendy's tweet so, so funny.

I'll be keeping an eye on the socials to see what other brands do.

Can’t believe we’re getting TikTok ban before gta 6January 16, 2025

Tell us how you really feel, Tom

(Image credit: Future)

That Senator Markey Act seeking to save TikTok I mentioned earlier was swiftly blocked late Thursday afternoon by another legislator, Senator Tom Cotton, who called TikTok a "Chinese Communist spy app that addicts our kids, harvests their data, targets them with harmful and manipulative content and spreads communist propaganda."

Clearly Cotton is no fan (though it also sounds like he's never been on the app). He added this denouement which more else less sealed the fate of Markey's bill: "Let me be crystal clear, there will be no extensions, no concessions, and no compromises for TikTok"

Republican Senator Tom Cotton blocking an attempt by Senator Ed Markey to extend the deadline for TikTok: Let me be crystal clear, there will be no extensions, no concessions, and no compromises for TikTok pic.twitter.com/XzLPfH755jJanuary 16, 2025

What if we don't collect?

(Image credit: Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

NBC News is now reporting that the Biden Administration's plan is to not collect fines when the TikTok ban officially goes into effect on January 19.

This means that while the ban will be real, there will be no penalties to any third party for, say, hosting the app on their platform. Apple's App Store could keep hosting it without worry. Oracle could keep hosting the data without concern.

If this happens, it leaves time for incoming President Trump to make a new executive order that either gives TikTok an extension or maybe rescinds the whole thing.

None of this is confirmed by White House officials or TikTok. In fact, since ByteDance might still react to the ban going through by pulling its app from US services, Biden's possible actions might not matter.

There's also the question of the Supreme Court ruling on whether or not the ban violates TikTok's First Amendment rights. The lack of a penalty would make that potentially moot.

As usual, nothing is certain and the clock is still tick-tocking.

@nbcnews

♬ original sound - nbcnews RedNote continues to have its moment

(Image credit: RedNote / Future)

In the midst of all the TikTok uncertainty – we're still waiting for the US Supreme Court's decision on whether to uphold the ban – RedNote continues to be the epicenter of a strange cultural moment.

I've downloaded the app and its Trending tab is naturally all about Chinese and American influencers seeing the lighter side of looming ban, and largely mocking its motivations. So-called 'TikTok refugees' are greeted by Chinese language lessons and the inevitable reaction videos.

Many US users are openly saying they're on RedNote out of spite and that their government's interventions are worthy of trolling. RedNote is definitely an 'interesting' place right now, but from what I've seen there's no way it'll become a TikTok replacement.

The latest noises from the Trump camp suggest they'll be using the law's 90-day extension clause (triggered if ByteDance shows it's moving towards a sale) to prevent TikTok from going dark on January 19. Whether or not that's actually possible is something we'll hopefully find out soon...

Justices could rule at 10AM ET

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Today’s the day or sort of the day. It’s the US Supreme Court’s last chance to rule on the TikTok ban. The social media company’s chances with the justices were never good. Its First Amendment argument was thin, at best.

Even so, this should be the day if the judges plan to rule. The word could come as early as 10AM ET, and there are now signs that they will do just that. Once the Justices deliver the expected ruling against ByteDance and TikTok, it's back to options B and C for the platform.

The most likely path forward for TikTok is the Biden Administration’s apparent plan to act like the ban is not in effect and not penalize anyone, including ByteDance. 

ByteDance, though, may still pull the app from the App Store until a ban is officially rescinded. And it’s not clear that will ever happen.

The Supreme Court has signaled that it will rule on the TikTok ban at 10 a.m. ET today pic.twitter.com/lBCkWpa1O1January 17, 2025

• The Google Home app will soon support the Nest Protect smoke alarm
• You will be able to receive alerts and adjust settings through Google Home
• Google Home is also getting better support for Matter-enabled smart locks

The Google Home app is getting a major update that will add support for the Nest Protect smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. It will also improve support for Matter-enabled smart locks, allowing you to use more of their functions through Google Home.

The Nest Protect launched in 2013, shortly before Google acquired Nest, and until now owners of the smart smoke detector have only been able to use it via the Nest mobile app. Now that's all changing, and as The Verge explains, you will soon be able to receive detection alerts, run safety and sound checks, and tweak options through Google Home instead.

Google has been gradually encouraging users to move away from the Nest app for a long time, and last year it gave Google Home a much-needed overhaul to make the switch easier. The tweaks included changing the interface so that certain key features associated with smart thermostats are no longer hidden behind icons, making it less streamlined but more intuitive to use.

The update arrived just before Google launched the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen, but it wasn't exclusively for owners of the new hardware. People using older Nest thermostats also noticed the changes intended to nudge them towards Google Home.

Features unlocked

Google Home is also getting improved support for Matter-enabled smart locks. Many of the best smart locks now support Matter, but using an app that's not the manufacturer's own can mean missing out on some important features. Following the update, options like the ability to set one-time passcodes for visitors will be available from within Google Home.

Android users who are enrolled in Google's Public Preview program will be first to receive the smart lock update. To join, open the Google Home app, go to the Settings menu, and select Public Preview under General. Tap 'Request invite' and you will receive an invitation to install a beta version of the app. You can leave the program at any time.

The update is expected to roll out for iOS devices later this year.

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• Threat actors accessed PowerSchool student information system and stole data on students and teachers in December 2024
• Multiple companies confirmed all data, covering as long as they had used PowerSchool, was taken
• The data was allegedly deleted by the hackers

The recent cyberattack on education technology software firm PowerSchool appears to be a lot worse than initially thought, as multiple companies came forward to say that all of their data was stolen in the incident.

In late December 2024, an unidentified threat actor used stolen credentials to access its PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) platform. From there, they were able to use the “export data manager" customer support tool to exfiltrate “Students” and “Teachers” database tables to a CSV file, which was then stolen.

The information grabbed in this attack included names, and postal addresses, and in some districts, the threat actors also obtained Social Security numbers (SSN), personally identifiable information (PII), medical information, and grades.

No ransomware

While PowerSchool didn’t want to say how many schools were affected by the attack, TechCrunch reached out to some, and got confirmation the incident was pretty destructive.

Two unnamed sources at affected school districts told the publication the hackers were able to access, "troves of personal data belonging to both current and former students and teachers."

One company said the miscreants stole all historical student and teacher data, while another added that demographic data for all teachers and students, both active and historical, were grabbed.

Besides these two organizations, who wanted to remain anonymous, others also publicly spoke about the incident, it was further explained. Menlo Park City School District also confirmed historical data theft, Rancho Santa Fe School District filed a data breach notice, and RootED Solutions (edtech consulting company from Boston) said the PowerSchool breach also affects school districts who no longer use the service, but did at some point.

PowerSchool said while this wasn’t a ransomware attack, it still paid the attackers to have the data wiped.

Via TechCrunch

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