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Save a huge $470 on this excellent robot vacuum and mop, which even comes with an auto-cleaning station.

There's nothing quite like a warm slice of homemade bread topped with a slather of butter – absolute heaven. Making your own bread, however, isn't always as heavenly.

Fortunately, there are some great gadgets and apps available to help raise your bread-baking game, and I've tried a lot of them. So, if your New Year resolution is to master the art of making perfect loaves – without a bread maker – you're in the right place.

These gadgets and apps won't make you a bread master overnight. It can take some time and practice to perfect the art of bread making, and in the meantime, you may end up with some sunburnt tiger loaves, squishy bloomers, and baguettes dense enough to take onto the battlefield.

They will, however, do some of the work for you by proofing, kneading, and slicing your homemade bread – as well as give you some inspiration for what to whip up next. So get your apron on, it's time to bake...

1. App inspiration

Rise Above (left) and Kneady (right) are both great companion apps, whether you want to make sourdough or ciabattas. (Image credit: Rise / Kneady)

Let's start at the beginning, shall we? You want to start making bread but need recipes to try or inspiration. There are lots of cooking websites and apps out there, but there are a few that really stand out when it comes to baking and bread.

3 quick break-making tips

1. Proofing perfection
When using the proofer for a basic white bloomer, I set the minimum to 30 and the max to 30.1, then put my dough (in a bowl covered with cling film) in for at least two hours. Once your dough is twice the size, take it out and you can fold the proofer away easily into a cupboard. Alternatively, you can put the risen dough in the fridge overnight which will enhance the flavor!

2. Kneading your dough
When kneading a white bloomer dough in the Aucma, I turn it on for about five minutes at setting two.

3. Don't weigh the bowl!
Make sure you pop your bowl (or whatever you're weighing the ingredients into) onto the scale first, then zero it, so the weight of the bowl isn't factored in alongside your ingredients.

First up, there's Rise, an app that's perfect for those wanting to learn how to make sourdough bread. While some recipes are available for free, the main features of this app are locked behind a pretty reasonable subscription: $3.99 /£3.99 / AU$5.99 a month, $14.99 / £14.99 /AU$29.99 a year, or a one-time payment of $19.99/£19.99/AU$22.99.

Not only does this app include lots of recipes for sourdoughs and other breads, but the paid version lets you schedule reminders to feed your sourdough starter, access recipes from other users, and estimate how long your dough needs to rise based on factors like hydration, salt, and temperature. If you're only starting out, though, there are free resources for creating a sourdough starter and how to fold and shape dough.

If you're less fussed about sourdough, check out Kneady. This is also a subscription service, but 50 recipes are available for free, including ones for boules, ciabattas, baguettes, and more.

Kneady Pro's subscription costs are a bit confusing, but the current offer is £1 (roughly $1.27 / AU$1.98) a week for three months, £1.61 (roughly $2.05 / AU$3.18) a week for one month, or £0.58 ($0.74 / AU$1.15) a week for a year. This unlocks over 500 professional recipes, a bunch of baking guides, and even the ability to ask the author of a recipe any questions you may have.

2. Accurate kitchen scales

(Image credit: AccuWeight)

You've got your recipe, and now you need to measure everything out. This may seem very basic, but a good set of kitchen scales is critical in my opinion – with bread baking and anything else you cook.

While traditional kitchen scales can do the job, electronic ones are often more accurate and you don't need to keep resetting them. If you've got slightly wonky electronic kitchen scales, it's worth considering a replacement or checking the batteries.

Fortunately, a good set of scales don't cost the earth, nor do they have to be super fancy. I recommend the Accuweight 201 Digital Kitchen Scales from Amazon, which RRP at $24.99 / £11.99 / AU$29.44 and will do the job nicely.

Weighing your ingredients incorrectly will have a major impact on your dough, making everything else much trickier.

3. A kitchen mixer with a dough hook attachment

(Image credit: Future)

A kitchen mixer isn't essential to bread making, but if you have a recipe that requires you to knead dough, a mixer with a dough hook attachment makes the task much easier.

I recently got this 6.5 Litre Aucma Stand Mixer from Amazon (for $169.99 / £129.99 / roughly AU$257), which has a whisk, beater, and dough hook attachment. This isn't a super fancy kitchen mixer but it does the job wonderfully, is very easy to clean, and has suction cups at the bottom to ensure it doesn't slip all over your countertop.

If you want something more professional (and expensive), I highly recommend the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker, which is probably the only mixer you'll ever need – but it's pretty big and retails at £529.99 (roughly $672 / AU$1,046).

4. A convenient proofer

(Image credit: Future)

When I was a kid, my mum would put a towel over her bread dough and put it in the airing cupboard to rise. While this method works, it can be temperamental, so it's worth getting a proofer if you want to make doughs that require proofing/rising.

When I came to the realization I needed a proofer (because it's winter and my old Victorian house isn't the best environment for proofing), I was worried about the cost – but then I found my secret weapon.

This Versatile Dough Proofer from Molgayol is $39.99 / £39 /AU$82 on Amazon and has been my bread-making savior. Now, it doesn't look exactly like its pictures, but it works.

Essentially, it's a yellow, foldable box (a bit like a picnic cooling bag) that comes with a heating pad, thermometer, and temperature control device. Simply put the heating pad in the bottom of the box along with the thermometer, plug it in, and then set the controller to the maximum and minimum temperature you want.

5. An electric carving knife

(Image credit: Russell Hobbs)

You've made your bread, and it's cooled – so it's time to see whether your hard work paid off.

While a standard bread knife can cut bread with no bother, if, like me, you make an absolute mess with a bread knife – with everyone getting a different-sized slice – you can make your life easier with an electric carving knife.

An electric carving knife isn't essential but can be a handy kitchen gadget to have, especially at Christmas. I'm a fan of this one from Russell Hobbs that's only £18.99 (roughly $24.16 / AU$37.57). Just make sure to watch your fingers!

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The camera is becoming more than just a means for taking photos. It could change how you interact with your phone.

• Researchers found 4.5 million fake stars on GitHub
• The platform’s ranking and recommendations lean heavily on stars
• Users are being urged to consider much more than just the number of stars

New research has revealed how widespread fake stars are across the GitHub platform, which could prove dangerous by increasing the visibility of malicious repositories associated with scam activity.

Similar to likes on social media, stars allow users to show their support for repositories. The more stars given, the more likely it is to appear in GitHub’s global ranking system and recommendations, extending its reach to more unsuspecting users.

Knowing this, threat actors have now gone on to create automated accounts to artificially star their dodgy repositories to spread malware.

GitHub star ratings helping to spread malware

The company confirms on a help page: “Many of GitHub's repository rankings depend on the number of stars a repository has. In addition, Explore GitHub shows popular repositories based on the number of stars they have.”

A new study published in December 2024 by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Socket Inc and North Carolina State University reveals that 4.5 million stars on the platform are believed to be inauthentic. They summarize the problem as a “prevalent and escalating threat happening in a platform central to modern open-source software development,” describing GitHub repositories as the “defacto distribution channels for software components.”

In total, an estimated 4.5 million stars across nearly 23,000 repositories were attributed to 1.32 million accounts, highlighting just how widespread the problem has become on the platform.

The study also noted a rise in fake star activity throughout 2024, with GitHub already taking action to counter dodgy users and repositories.

Previously used as a measure of how good a repository is, GitHub users are now being advised to consider other factors, such as its activity, authenticity and code quality.

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• Hints of a OnePlus Watch 3 Pro have emerged
• New health features for the companion app have leaked too
• The smartwatches could launch very soon

In our OnePlus Watch 2 review we gave the wearable 4.5 stars out of 5, so we're very much looking forward to what its successor has to offer – and new information tips some potential health features, as well as the possibility of a Pro edition of the watch.

Starting with that OnePlus Watch 3 Pro rumor, it comes from the team at Android Authority: references to a more premium version of the wearable are hidden in the OHealth phone app that accompanies OnePlus and Oppo watches.

The OnePlus Watch 3 Pro apparently has the model number WWE251, and is distinct from the standard OnePlus Watch 3. For the time being though, we don't know what the differences might be in terms of features or price.

We haven't seen a Pro model in the OnePlus Watch series so far, but it makes sense that an extra option would be introduced – what with Apple having the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung having the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

New health features

How the new Health tab could look (Image credit: AssembleDebug / Android Authority)

On to the next tidbit, and once again we're indebted to Android Authority for it. The OHealth app has more to reveal besides the presence of a second OnePlus Watch 3 model apparently – specifically, some notable health upgrades.

Code currently hidden in the Android app reveals ECG (electrocardiogram) functionality, with the ability to detect conditions such as an unusually high or low heart rate, atrial fibrillation, and PVCs (premature ventricular contractions).

There's also a wrist temperature reading option, which can help in assessing your body's overall health. Other features spotted in the code include a quick '60-second checkup' tool, and a new Health tab in the app that provides deeper and longer-term insights into your health based on the readings you're getting from your watch.

It's not clear yet which watch models might get which features, but this shows that a substantial software upgrade is on the way, as well as the new hardware. Based on recent leaks, it looks as though a launch for the OnePlus Watch 3 and the OnePlus Watch 3 Pro could be imminent.

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• Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0 arrives on January 15
• It adds a new world for players to explore
• This is in addition to two new five-star playable characters

Hoyoverse has announced some new details about the Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0, or ‘Paean of Era Nova’, update and it seems absolutely massive.

First and foremost, it kicks off a new chapter in the main story and allows players to experience the new world of Amphoreus.

Isolated from the rest of the universe, residents of Amphoreus worship the Titans - 12 legendary beings that created the planet. After a series of tragedies that saw the world overtaken by an evil black tide, humanity is isolated in the besieged Holy City of Okhema, which is protected by the Worldbearing Titan Kephale.

Players will encounter a mysterious but adorable new companion quickly named ‘Mem’ thanks to their inability to make any other sound. Mem can be summoned in battle, gradually charging Energy. At full charge, Mem will trigger a Support effect that deals additional True DMG that can help turn a dire battle around.

You will also be free to wander around Okhema, which features distinctive landmarks like the vast Marmoreal Palace, grand baths, and more.

That’s not all, however, as there will also be the city-state of Castrum Kremnos to explore. The home of the Strife Titan, players will be able to use a unique time-travel power to transport themselves to the city in its golden age.

This is on top of a few other environments, including the world’s starting point of The Vortex of Genesis.

Image 1 of 2

The Herta (Image credit: Hoyoverse)Image 2 of 2

Aglaea (Image credit: Hoyoverse)

The update will also introduce two new powerful five-star playable characters. The first is The Herta, who players have previously only been able to encounter through her magical puppets. She is an Ice-Type Erudition character with a focus on massive area-of-effect damage, targeting up to five enemies at once. She can stack Interpretation on enemies and allies, increasing her damage output further.

The second character is Aglaea, a native of Amphoreus. She is the first limited five-star Remembrance character and can summon the Garmentmaker memosprite to fight alongside her in battle. Together they dance around the battlefield, attacking with an enchanting cadence.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0 will arrive on January 15 in the US and January 16 in the UK. The free-to-play game is available now on PC, Android, iOS, and PlayStation 5.

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• PS Plus's monthly free games for January are coming soon
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe head the lineup
• They'll be available across every PS Plus tier from January 7

The PS Plus free games for January have been officially revealed, and it's looking like a pretty strong start to the year for the subscription service.

Announced via the official PlayStation Blog, January's PS Plus monthly games are headlined by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe. The three games will be available to download from January 7 across all three PS Plus tiers.

Subscribers currently have until January 6 to download and keep December's monthly offerings, which are It Takes Two, Aliens: Dark Descent and, Temtem.

While Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League didn't do much to impress upon launch - with an exhausting live service model and heavily repetitive gameplay - it's still worth checking out for free this month as the now content-complete version of the game offers plenty to do. It's also deeply discounted at the PlayStation Store's January sale if you'd prefer to acquire the game that way.

Meanwhile, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is an absolute must-play. This is arguably Criterion's best work since the Burnout series and much of that DNA translates over to Hot Pursuit. With two campaigns that pit cops and racers against each other, it's a thrilling experience and certainly one of the best racing games of recent memory.

Finally there's The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, a comedic game that offers some brilliant, thoughtful commentary on the nature of video game storytelling and the legacies great games leave behind. It's a very relaxed experience but definitely one worth checking out if you fancy a good, hearty laugh in tandem with an unforgettable and endlessly creative narrative journey.

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• Vodafone Italy gets snapped up by Swisscom in a €8 billion deal
• It no longer operates networks in Italy or Spain
• Vodafone is focused on growth in the UK

Vodafone has confirmed the completion of the sale of its Italian business (Vodafone Italy) to Swisscom AG in a deal with €8 billion ($8.3 billion).

Switzerland’s Swisscom, primarily operating in its home country through its self-named network and mobile virtual network operators like Coop Mobile, already has some market share in Italy with its Fastweb brand, which it partly acquired in 2007 (€3 billion for 82%) before fully acquiring in 2010.

As part of the deal, Vodafone has agreed to continue providing certain services in Italy for up to five years post-completion.

Vodafone sells off Italian subsidiary to Swiss giant

The company confirmed that the proceeds of its sale would go toward reducing the Group’s net debt.

Walter Renna, CEO of Swisscom’s Fastbweb, will head the new Fastweb + Vodafone brand.

The sale of its Vodafone Italy follows the sale of its Spanish business in late 2023 – the Zegona Communications deal was worth €4.1 billion in cash.

At the time, company CEO Margherita Della Valle said that the sale would “enable [Vodafone] to focus [its] resources in markets with sustainable structures and sufficient local scale.”

Vodafone has also had a busy few months in the UK, following CMA approval of its merger with Three at the beginning of December 2024. The deal, set to benefit “tens of millions of consumers and businesses,” will see the two former network giants invest £11 billion ($13.7 billion) into the UK’s 5G infrastructure.

Margherita Della Valle commented: “Today’s approval releases the handbrake on the UK’s telecoms industry, and the increased investment will power the UK to the forefront of European telecommunications.”

Speaking about the sale of Vodafone’s Italian business, Swisscom CEO Christoph Aeschlimann said: “The improved positioning in Italy will create long-term value for all stakeholders – thanks to growing cashflows and dividends in the future.”

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Many restaurants -- even the high-end ones -- are ditching dress codes for diners.

Something special is coming to Las Vegas this month, and if you're looking for home entertainment Heaven then you're going to want to tune in for the big reveal. That's because Yaber plans to unveil the ultimate in home entertainment.

You might not know the Yaber name just yet, but it's becoming a really big deal in home entertainment technology. The youthful brand – the "Y" in its name represents the innovation and youthful energy of Generation Y – is developing an enviable reputation for pushing the boundaries of audio-visual innovation while delivering incredible value for money.

Yaber has already won shelves full of awards including the Red Dot Award, the IDEA Award, the VGP Award and the CES Innovation Award 2024. And we're quietly confident that what Yaber's about to unveil will gain them even more gongs.

(Image credit: Yaber) The start of something special

Yaber was founded in 2018 and launched the world's first entertainment projector the following year, pioneering a whole new category in audio-visual excellence. Its combination of superb visual quality and exceptional audio made it an instant hit, and today Yaber entertainment projectors are delighting millions of streaming fans, gamers and movie buffs in over 120 countries.

The firm has been making lots of great friends, too. Yaber has been working with audio legends JBL since 2023 to bring its speaker smarts to Yaber's equally clever projectors. In late 2024 Yaber announced an exclusive partnership with the studio of legendary artist Keith Haring to release a special edition of its T2 protector inspired by his art, and Yaber has also collaborated with the Pantone Color Institute to debut an exclusive version of the flagship K3 projector to light up Paris Fashion Week.

(Image credit: Yaber) What to expect from Yaber's big reveal

We've been sworn to secrecy about what Yaber will unveil at CES 2025. But we can tell you that it builds on the optical excellence and innovative technology of its very best award-winning entertainment projectors, the Yaber K3 Series and the Yaber T2 Series.

Let's take the K3 Series first. It's Yaber's premier home theatre projector, capable of truly amazing visuals on an epic scale. The pictures it projects are stunningly clear and bright, and it's able to create a projection from 40 inches to a massive 200 inches – ideal for the biggest blockbusters. It's a super-smart, super-low-noise projector with one-tap operation, voice control, NFC screencasting and effortless setup to give you a perfect picture in seconds. And with dual 15W JBL speakers, it sounds as good as it looks.

Its sibling, the super-portable Yaber T2 Series, is even smaller and just as incredible. The T2 Series comes in two flavors: the regular projector and a special Keith Haring Edition.

The Keith Haring Edition features Haring's iconic motifs and a classic color palette of red, white and black, adding a splash of artistic flair to transform everyday entertainment. "Partnering with Yaber to bring Keith Haring's art onto a projector for the first time is a wonderful way to extend his legacy," said David Stark, Founder and CEO of Artestar, who represents the Keith Haring Studio. “This product allows his art to be experienced by a new audience, bringing awareness to his work and adding a special vibrancy to everyday viewing experiences.”

Whether you go for the fun and funky Keith Haring Edition or prefer the clean good looks of the standard version, we think you'll be amazed by how big an entertainment experience such a small projector can deliver both indoors and out. Both versions of the Yaber T2 Series are small enough to hold with one hand, with an integrated handle that makes them ideal for taking anywhere - so you can have the full cinema experience at a party or just in your own back yard when the weather’s nice.

The T2 Series are perfectly portable, but those small projectors think big. That’s because they can produce silky-smooth visuals up to a massive 120 inches in size. They both come with JBL speakers and Dolby Audio support for immersive audio, plus auto-focus and auto keystone correction for effortless setup. And with over 7,000 smart apps to choose from, you'll always be able to stream something worth watching on that giant display.

That’s not all. With the T2 Series’ music mode, you can also use your projector’s superb sound system as a portable Bluetooth speaker to get the party started. Thanks to their built-in batteries you don’t need to worry about finding a power socket: in music mode they can keep the music going for up to 18 hours.

(Image credit: Yaber) Share the secret of exceptional entertainment

There's not long to wait for the future of home entertainment to be revealed: Yaber will be unveiling the ultimate in home entertainment, its very first ultra-short throw projector and a cinema-level sound projector, on 6 January 2025 at the CES exhibition. If you're lucky enough to be in Las Vegas it's all happening at Caesar's Palace at 4pm local time, but if you can't make it along don't worry, because Yaber will be sharing all its secrets online immediately afterwards.

Click here to find out more about Yaber's story and its incredible products. And don't forget to save the date!

Aarke Coffee System: two-minute review

If you’re in the market for a statement coffee machine, few options catch the eye quite like the Aarke Coffee System. With an unmissable chrome finish, it cuts a dash on any countertop, and the luxe design cues don’t stop with the stainless steel construction: from the knurled control knob to the weight of the grinder itself, there’s a lot about the setup that feels premium.

Comprised of a bean grinder and drip coffee maker, which can be bought and used independently, the two parts make most sense when connected together by wire. The cable itself is slightly unsightly, but automation is the pay-off: set the control knob to A and the grinder will churn out the right amount of coffee based on how much water is in the tank.

It’s a clever trick that reflects the streamlined approach of the whole system. Just a single button manages the maker, its hot plate and the descaling mode. You’ll find more controls on the grinder, including a collar that clicks as you twist to set the grind size, as well as a satisfyingly sturdy on/off switch.

What you don’t get is a great degree of manual influence over the brew. While you can fine-tune the quantity, strength and grind size, you can’t change the temperature – either for the brew or the hot plate. You might expect that option for the money, but the Aarke automatically regulates temperatures instead. That’s because this system is more about making slick and efficient brews in style.

(Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

In that sense it excels. Fill the tank and a light inside automatically illuminates so that you can see the water level. Hit the button and it heats up quickly, with the water head evenly wetting the coffee bed for maximum extraction. The result every time is an enjoyable pot of coffee with plenty of depth and flavor.

For such an expensive system, we encountered more niggles than we’d expect. The grinder jammed up twice, even with regular brushing. The supplied catch cup doesn’t sit perfectly against the grinder, which can lead to overshoot. And the carafe doesn’t keep coffee especially hot once it’s off the plate.

So the Aarke Coffee System is an interesting proposition. It’s beautifully built, simple to operate and has some clever automated features. Yet it’s not quite automated enough for uninitiated users to master without a demonstration, nor is it faultless. But if you want an exquisite solution for reliably good coffee and you’re happy to pay for it, there’s nothing quite like what Aarke is offering.

Aarke Coffee System: price and availability

• Coffee System costs $758 / £620
• Coffee Maker costs $379 / £300 (standalone)
• Coffee Grinder costs $379 / £300 (standalone)

Bean-to-cup coffee rarely comes cheap – and the Aarke Coffee System is no exception. Priced at $758 / £620 (about AU$1,200) for the Coffee Maker and Coffee Grinder combo, it’s a pretty serious investment – especially for a drip filter system which has limited controls.

That makes the Aarke Coffee System more expensive than any other machine in our list of the best drip coffee makers, including the De'Longhi TrueBrew CAM1025MB – a US-only bean-to-cup machine with a more sophisticated digital interface.

It’s worth noting that the constituent parts of the Aarke system can also be bought individually. The Coffee Maker costs $379 / £300 (about AU$450), while the Coffee Grinder is priced at $379 / £320 (about AU$600). That means you don’t save anything by buying the Coffee System versus purchasing each element separately – so you could start out with one and add the other later.

You can also pick up an optional Thermal Jug, which is vacuum-insulated and designed to keep your brew warmer for longer than the carafe included with the Coffee Maker. It’s yours for $99 / £80 (about AU$160).

• Price score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands) Aarke Coffee System: specs Aarke Coffee System: design

• Separate grinder and coffee maker
• Polished stainless steel finish
• Streamlined, tactile controls

With its chromed stainless steel finish, the Aarke Coffee System is an unmissable presence on any counter. There’s an industrial quality to the design, from the bolted-on nameplate to the way that the filter basket locks into place. It’s a beautiful bit of kitchen kit, even if its polished surfaces leave nowhere for fingerprints or spilt coffee to hide.

The system is comprised of Aarke’s Coffee Grinder and Coffee Maker. These can be bought and used separately, but they work best when paired together. Connecting them by a coiled cable unlocks the system’s party trick: fill the brewer’s tank, set the quantity to automatic and the grinder will churn out coffee to match the volume of water.

It’s a clever trick that works well in practise, but the cable feels like an unsightly piece of clutter in what is otherwise a streamlined setup. You can wind away some of the wire underneath, but with a pair of power cables also trailing away from the two machines, these leads do feel like a distraction. For a design-first coffee maker with a serious price tag, we think Aarke could have done more to neaten up the wiring.

Load beans into the hopper, and ground coffee into the chute (at the top right) (Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

Because the grinder and brewer stand separately, the Aarke Coffee System isn’t the most compact bean-to-cup option on the market. If you want the two to sit side-by-side, you’ll need to clear a fair amount of counter space. That said, the overall footprint isn’t unmanageable.

Both units are weighty in the right way. At 9.5lb/4.3kg, the grinder in particular has a heft that feels nicely premium. So do its tactile controls. A knurled knob on the side sets the grind quantity, with an additional dial built-in to fine-tune the strength. The collar twists with a satisfying click to set the grind size, while a satisfyingly sturdy lever starts and stops the grinding.

One unmarked button is all you’ll find on the brewer itself, to control the brewing, hot plate and descaling mode. You can also hold it for three seconds to bloom the coffee before the main brew. This setup reflects the minimalist approach of the whole system. You don’t get the kind of manual control offered by drip makers like the De’Longhi TrueBrew CAM1025MB, with no option to change the water temperature.

The large, bright touchscreen makes it easy to fine-tune your perfect coffee (Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

Because everything’s pared back and unlabelled, there is a little bit of a learning curve across the grinder and brewer. That said, once you’ve got the hang of it, this is a very easy machine to use.

There are several neat features which show the thought that’s gone into the setup: a grind size guide on the bean basket lid; a light inside the tank which illuminates when you add water; a valve beneath the filter basket, which stops coffee from dripping onto the hot plate when the carafe is removed. The hot plate also detects when the carafe isn’t in place, turning off to save energy.

There are some oversights, though. Chief among them is the included catch cup, which doesn’t sit flush against the grinder. As a result, ground coffee will often overshoot and spill around the base. The carafe also doesn’t feel as premium as the rest of the machine and doesn’t offer much insulation when taken off the hot plate.

These imperfections detract from what is otherwise a beautiful coffee maker. In that respect, the Aarke Coffee System falls just a little bit short for the money, but the aesthetics and interface do a lot to make up for it – especially if you want something slick, without too much complexity.

• Design score: 4/5

Aarke Coffee System: performance

• Relatively straightforward to use
• Brews quickly and consistently
• Grinder spout can block up easily

As a premium bean-to-cup setup that brews consistently tasty coffee without much fuss, the Aarke Coffee System performs well. With the grind quantity set to automatic, there are four human inputs: beans in the grinder, water in the tank and a filter paper in the basket – plus freshly ground coffee transferred from the catch cup to the filter.

Once you know the process, the Aarke Coffee System is fundamentally straightforward and – crucially – makes good coffee. With capacity for up to 10 cups’ worth in a single brew, you can easily churn out batches for yourself and guests. It’s pretty quick, too, taking just a few minutes to fill the carafe.

The milk dispenser is easy to attach, and unlike most fully automatic espresso machines, the KF8 keeps the container covered at all times. (Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

The showerhead covers pretty much the whole of the filter basket and does a decent job of wetting the coffee bed. According to Aarke, water temperature and flow rate are optimized based on the quantity in the tank. This automated approach means you don’t get any modes for different coffee styles. The system is simply designed to brew consistently good filter coffee.

In our experience, that’s what it does. With a range of different beans, the Aarke Coffee System delivered good extraction and nicely balanced flavors, without any bitterness. Using the bloom mode pre-soaks the grounds to reduce sourness, although whether you’ll notice a difference depends on both your palate and the beans you’re using.

Each member of your household can have their own profile for their custom drinks (Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

We also found the hot plate temperature pretty much spot on. We never tasted any bitterness from burnt coffee at the bottom, which is down to how the hot plate operates: it isn’t designed to keep your brew warm indefinitely. Instead, the system gradually reduces power to the plate over 40 minutes. This is better for taste but because the time setting can’t be overridden, it’s not ideal if you want a pot of coffee to keep going back to throughout the morning.

As mentioned above, you get much more control over the grinder. We didn’t test all 50 of its grind settings, but we did find that it produces a consistent grind and quantity of coffee. Dialled in for espresso, French press or drip filter, it’s a quality flat burr grinder that would work well as a standalone option with a different brewer – albeit without the automatic hook-up.

Espresso was consistently well extracted, with rich, golden crema (Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

On its default setting, we found the automatic mode resulted in coffee that was a little strong for our taste. That’s easily adjusted using the fine-tuning dial or by manually setting the grind quantity to one cup less for the same amount of water.

It is loud, but that’s the nature of the beast. More frustrating was the fact that it jammed up twice, due to ground coffee clogging up at the top of the spout. This happened after only a few uses. You’ll need to regularly and vigorously clean the spout with the included brush to avoid this, which is a slightly messy process and means the Aarke Coffee System requires more maintenance than something like the De'Longhi TrueBrew CAM1025MB.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Aarke Coffee System? Buy it if

You want a stunning bean-to-cup setup
With a polished stainless steel build, streamlined controls and tactile knobs and buttons, the Aarke system is a seriously sophisticated way to enjoy drip coffee.

You want some automation
Connect the grinder and maker by wire and the system will automatically calculate the correct quantity of coffee for the amount of water in the tank.

You want a reliable brew
Once you’ve got your strength and quantities dialled in, the Aarke system produces tasty filter coffee every time – and keeps it at the right temperature.

Don't buy it if

You have a limited budget
Sophistication comes at a price and the Aarke system commands a pretty hefty premium, especially when compared to rival drip coffee makers with similar features.

You want total control
While you can adjust grind size, quantity and strength, the Aarke system doesn’t allow you to change the temperature of the water or hot plate.

You want a mess-free setup
The grinder spout requires regular cleaning with the bundled brush, while the shape of the catch up means coffee often ends up on the counter.

KitchenAid KF8: also consider

Not completely sold on the Aarke Coffee System? Here are a couple of alternatives to consider.

De'Longhi TrueBrew CAM1025MB

If you’d like a bean-to-cup machine which gives you more options for adjusting the brew, De’Longhi’s drip maker is worth a look. It’s not as stylish as the Aarke system and still doesn’t come cheap, but it is easy to use, with convenient automation and minimal maintenance required.

Read our in-depth De'Longhi TrueBrew CAM1025MB review

Moccamaster KBGV Select

If you don’t need to grind your own beans or already own a grinder, the Moccamaster is our favorite drip coffee maker overall. With just two buttons to push, it’s a seriously easy machine to operate. It brews tasty coffee quickly and consistently, plus its functional design is strikingly industrial.

Read our in-depth Moccamaster KBGV Select review

How I tested the Aarke Coffee System

(Image credit: Future / Christian Rowlands)

• Used every day for a month
• Tested with different beans and grind settings
• Cleaned out the grind spout several times

To test the Aarke Coffee System, I used it as my main coffee maker for a month. Every morning, I would grind a fresh batch of beans, tip them into the filter basket and brew several cups’ worth for me and my partner. I also brewed up the occasional afternoon boost – and because I tested it in December, the system was also put to use making coffee for guests over the festive season.

To fully understand the capabilities of the system, I tried a range of different grind sizes and strength settings. I used the grinder on its automatic mode, as well as manually adjusting the cup quantity to find a setting that suited my taste.

I also tested the system with a range of different beans over the course of the month, to put the grinder through its paces and understand how well the Aarke Coffee System extracts different flavor profiles.

While I haven’t reviewed too many coffee machines in my many years as a product tester, I know what makes a good coffee: I’ve been drinking the stuff for a long time – and I’ve made brews using everything from French presses to pod machines to portable hand pumps.

Find out more about how we test.

Max has announced its new slate of January 2025 content and there are some excellent movies for you to stream. Max is easily one of the best streaming services because it has a massive library of films covering a whole range of genres with new titles added every month. But with so many options, figuring out what’s worth your time can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

Our everything new on Max in January 2025 guide covers every addition to the platform this month, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, we’ve got you covered. We’ve spotlighted three must-watch movies below, all boasting stellar critical ratings on Rotten Tomatoes that make each one of the best Max movies.

Whether you’re craving a mix of action and sci-fi dystopia, a stunning and heart-wrenching romance, or a gripping historical drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat, these picks deliver. Read on to discover your next movie night masterpiece.

Call Me By Your Name

Score: 95%
Rating: R
Run time: 132 minutes
Director: Luca Guadagnino

Call Me By Your Name is a visually stunning and tender romance set in Italy, which follows the story of Elio (played by Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (played by Armie Hammer). In career-defining performances, the pair have a passionate summer fling.

Expect to be completely stunned by this beautiful coming-of-age masterpiece that does an incredible job at capturing the bittersweet nature of first love with authenticity and depth. Directed by Luca Guadagnino (also known for Challengers, Queer and Suspiria), it’s set against a backdrop of sun-dappled vistas and piano melodies. It’s one of those movies you'll be thinking about long after the credits roll.

The Imitation Game

Score: 90%
Rating: PG-13
Run time: 113 minutes
Director: Morten Tyldum

An incredibly gripping historical drama, The Imitation Game tells the real life story of Alan Turing (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). Turing was the genius mathematician who famously cracked the Enigma code during World War II. Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Turing is heartbreaking and brilliant. He captures both the triumphs and struggles of a man whose groundbreaking work helped to end the war and yet his personal life was filled with deep injustice.

Yes, it's a biopic but The Imitation Game feels more than that, a celebration of perseverance and intellect, but also a grim reminder of the prejudice and persecution he faced only decades ago. It's a movie that's both thrilling and deeply moving.

Mad Max (1980)

Score: 90%
Rating: R
Run time: 88 minutes
Director: George Miller

Sure, George Miller has returned to direct a newer version of this gritty action classic, but the original 1980 version is where it all began for the iconic Mad Max franchise. This movie introduced audiences to Miller's dystopian world, as well as Mel Gibson's Max. Expect a relentless ride filled with car chases, combat and a very dark vision of the future.

Granted, the movie may look dated compared to modern-day standards, but it's still a must-watch classic. It's also a testament to inventive filmmaking, and revolutionized the action genre at the time.

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Woot is offering this portable charging wonder for 58% less than you'd normally have to pay for it.

It’s never too early to start managing your personal finances, which is why Greenlight is such a good idea. This is a banking app and bank account combination that is designed to help younger users master the management of their money.

Unlike some personal finance software and budgeting apps, which are dedicated to helping adults take control of their spending, Greenlight adds a lighter touch to proceedings, which makes getting to grips of money more of a fun experience.

Along with giving children and teens a great grounding in managing their personal finances, Greenlight also features the option to have and use debit cards. Allowing kids to take control of their spending habits, while still enabling parents to keep a keen eye on their progress, has been hugely popular. The Greenlight app frequently gets a thumbs-up from users, while the user base is said to be over 6.5 million.

• Want to try Greenlight? Check out the website here

While older fans of personal finance apps such as Quicken or Simplifi are already well catered for, having Greenlight at the disposal of kids and teens is an excellent way to boost education about money matters. The added benefit, alongside the ability to maintain strong parental control, is that Greenlight has so far managed to keep costs low, making it a very affordable option for most families.

Greenlight is an affordable service that comes with three different product options. (Image credit: Greenlight) Greenlight: Pricing

The best personal finance software caters extensively for the adult end of the market, whereas Greenlight is perfectly tailored towards kids and teenagers, much like the high-profile GoHenry product. Another bonus in that respect is Greenlight keeps things simple, with a straightforward selection of products built around an app and card combination. A free trial can be used to sample the service first too.

From there, Greenlight offers Greenlight Core, which currently costs $4.99 per month, followed by Greenlight Max at $9.98 per month and this is topped off by Greenlight Infinity. This costs $14.98 per month at the time of writing.

And, because these products come with supporting bank accounts, there is interest to be had as well. Currently, the rates sit at 2 percent, 3 percent and 5 percent accordingly. It should be noted, though, that these rates can (and probably will) change depending on market conditions.

Greenlight offers advice and guidance on every area of personal finances for kids and teens. (Image credit: Greenlight) Greenlight: Features

As is the case with most personal finance software, more features and functions come with the pricier packages. Central to the appeal and a mainstay of all products is the debit card that comes with each account for up to five children or teenagers. There’s also a credit card option open to adult users of the Greenlight service.

The Greenlight Core package comes with the debit card, a ‘Chores, jobs and allowance’ feature and financial literacy game, designed to encourage kids to get involved with their finances. The Greenlight Max product builds on that and adds in investing for kids, 1 percent cashback on purchases plus phone, purchase and identity theft protection. It’s worth reading the small print relating to these features, however, to ensure they work for you and your circumstances.

Rounding it out on the features front are driving reports, alerts and crash detection options plus family location sharing and SOS alerts offered with the Greenlight Infinity product. Again though, the Greenlight website does have some asterisks attached to these features, so it’s important to check on any exclusions or limitations based on what you expect from the product.

Greenlight has games designed to generate the interest of kids in managing their own money. (Image credit: Greenlight) Greenlight: Performance

Greenlight works very effectively and that’s largely down to the neat tools on offer within the app itself. There are options to set spending limits and, better still, create chores for the kids to do. These can be used in their default modes or customised to suit more unique scenarios. It’s all very well engineered and thought out, which means using the app is a doddle for both parents and kids alike.

The great thing about all this is the way the graphically-driven software delivers the information. It’s all very simple, logically laid out and the power tools, such as teens having their paychecks deposited and visible within the app, makes the Greenlight performance level very high indeed.

A more advanced feature, like the investing aspect of the service impresses too, with the reassuring line that nothing can be done without parents or guardians being involved.

Greenlight: Ease of use

Greenlight is excellent at providing features and functionality for any parent wanting to keep an eye on things, especially when it comes to the kids' spending. From the off, Greenlight encourages kids and teens to learn about managing their money and using games and other fun features with the app and website. Equally, though, parental controls are at the forefront of all three product variants, so control is never far away if you’re the parent or guardian.

The same goes for the debit card side of things because the Community Federal Savings Bank offering supplied with the Greenlight products can be fully supervised by an adult. There’s even the benefit of cashback too, so younger users can quickly learn to see the benefit of being savvy with their spending. This is a great way to do things and works in a simple but effective fashion. Greenlight does also offer a credit card option for parents if they feel the need for more plastic.

Greenlight provides a helping hand for users via an excellent assistance portal. (Image credit: Greenlight) Greenlight: Support

Greenlight works well but anyone who does encounter issues or who has a question to ask will find the help portal very beneficial. There are lots of FAQs here, but there is also the option to ask a question via SMS, while the chat tools could prove useful too. 

At the foot of the help hub page, Greenlight also offers more ways to seek assistance with a text number, email button and phone number all being at customer’s disposal. Help is apparently offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with some holiday hours variations.

Greenlight: Final verdict

Alongside a product like GoHenry, the options presented by Greenlight are very appealing and, perhaps, slightly more substantial. The company offers options that sit right up there next to the best personal finance software apps, but the focus on kids and teens is a masterstroke. The product options are also very practical, offering useful guidance on how to manage money while also allowing parents to keep a close eye on spending habits.

With three product variants that are affordable too, Greenlight has done a great job at making money management interesting and fun. At the same time though, it gives kids and teens the ability to take control of their own finances, with plenty of options for parents to ensure that things never get out of control.

• We've also highlighted the best tax software

• Sony is planning gradual, measured updates to the PlayStation Portal experience
• Executive Hiromi Wakai explains "incremental steps" will be taken to improve gaming on the device
• Peak time for PS Portal usage is around 9pm, according to Sony

It seems that more PlayStation Portal improvements will be coming in 2025 and potentially beyond, and Sony is paying close attention to community feedback.

That's according to Sony Interactive Entertainment's vice president of product management, Hiromi Wakai. In an interview with Game File, Wakai explained that Sony will likely be taking a more measured, long-term approach to expanding PlayStation Portal's feature set.

“PS Portal was a new type of product for us, so we wanted to be extra careful to ensure our users get the best possible user experience,” Wakai said, referencing the addition of PS5 game streaming via the cloud to PlayStation Portal. She added: “We want to continue that approach with PS Portal, and make incremental steps based on community reception on the beta.”

Wakai also noted that PS Portal owners might just be bigger gamers than you, telling Game File: “Players who own a PS Portal tend to spend more time playing games than those who don’t. Of course, it’s likely that users who purchase PS Portal were naturally more engaged in the first place, however, our data shows that PS Portal owners tend to spend more time playing games compared to non-owners.”

It's also stated in the interview that peak time for PlayStation Portal usage appears to be around 9pm - roughly an hour later than the PS5 console itself. This could suggest that players are hopping off of their consoles and continuing play sessions on the Portal, whether that be to wind down with a game in bed or to hand the TV over to someone else in the house.

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• CarPlay 2.0 has missed its 2024 deadline
• Small updates were spotted in November
• A full launch could still happen in 2025

You may remember Apple teasing a next-gen CarPlay experience back in December 2023, with Porsche and Aston Martin apparently signed up to help – and we were then promised that the software would be rolling out in the US sometime in 2024.

Well, it's now 2025 – happy new year by the way – and CarPlay 2.0 has yet to arrive. As MacRumors notes, at the time of writing the official Apple website still says the first models fitted with the next generation of CarPlay will "arrive in 2024".

That raises the question of whether Apple is still working on this improved version of its in-car software, or whether it's abandoned the idea of a more integrated experience – in the same way that it's apparently abandoned plans for an Apple Car.

Apple hasn't spoken about a CarPlay upgrade for quite some time, though a few updated icons did appear in the code for iOS 18.2, which was pushed out in November. It seems the project might be delayed, rather than completely dead.

What is CarPlay 2.0?

The current CarPlay runs on top of existing in-car software (Image credit: Shutterstock / Hadrian)

Apple went into quite a bit of detail about this new and improved CarPlay at its WWDC event in June 2024. We heard about branding that would be tweaked for each car maker, and new apps offering deeper hooks into the different parts of the vehicle.

Essentially, that's what Apple CarPlay 2.0 is about: deeper integration into features such as climate control, on-board cameras, and electric vehicle charge status, which the current version of CarPlay can't access.

All of this will require help from the automobile manufacturers, which may be the reason for the delay. Getting these companies to commit to Apple's car software rather than their own is perhaps one of the major stumbling blocks in the way.

We were a little concerned about the delay back in December – but let's hope it is just a delay and not a full cancellation. Another WWDC show will no doubt be set for June, and we might have heard more by then.

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• A Nintendo patent could reveal some of the AI upscaling technology that will power the Nintendo Switch 2
• It details a method to increase picture quality using machine learning
• The patent suggests this could be used to keep game file sizes low

Another day, another huge flurry of potential information about the Nintendo Switch 2. This time we’ve learned more about the kind of upscaling technology that we might see implemented in the upcoming console.

The information comes from a patent filed by Nintendo in July 2023 and recently made public. The patent details a technology that is capable of “converting images of one resolution into another (e.g. higher) resolution and may be used in real-time applications from images generated by, for example, a video game engine”.

It’s powered by machine learning algorithms and, put simply, would allow a video game console like the Nintendo Switch 2 to increase the resolution of its picture output with little additional hardware strain. A few examples of how it could be used are included in the patent, which outlines how a 540p picture could be upscaled to 1080p for “increased graphical fidelity”.

It might be tempting to assume that this means that the Nintendo Switch 2 will target a 1080p output, but it’s important to bear in mind that such examples are included for illustrative purposes only. The patent is also careful to clarify that “whenever 1080p is mentioned in connection with a target image, the techniques [...] may also be applied to 4K images”.

We also don’t know for sure that this technology will even be implemented in the Nintendo Switch 2, though of course it seems highly likely given the given the document's focus on video game applications.

Interestingly, the patent suggests that the technology could be used to keep game file sizes low “so as to fit onto relatively smaller sized physical media”. This would be achieved by, for example, lowering the resolution of the textures downloaded by the player and then using the AI upscaling technology to increase it to produce a final picture.

It’s clear that AI upscaling tech is becoming an increasingly important part of the gaming landscape. Solutions such as Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR are popular ways to boost video game performance on PC. The PS5 Pro recently shipped with Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling. We’ll have to wait for the console's official reveal to see whether Nintendo will opt to follow suit.

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• Experts warn executives are being hit with personalized AI phishing attacks
• AI tools can process huge amounts of data on targets
• 90% of successful cyber attacks start with a phishing scam

Top businesses such as eBay and Beazley are reporting huge increases in the volume of personalized phishing attacks levied against high-level employees.

A recent report by the Financial Times, outlined the growing concerns about the growing use of AI in targeted scams against executives at major firms.

“This is getting worse and it’s getting very personal, and this is why we suspect AI is behind a lot of it,” Beazley’s chief information security officer Kirsty Kelly told the publication. “We’re starting to see very targeted attacks that have scraped an immense amount of information about a person.”

Expensive consequences

By processing vast amounts of data, AI can quickly scrape and retain information about victims, and mimic the tone and style of an individual or company. This means that the hyper-personalized phishing scams are becoming increasingly convincing and harder to spot.

As these attacks become more sophisticated, they are costing victims more and more. Almost all (90%) of successful cyber attacks originate with a phishing email, and the global average cost of a data breach has risen almost 10% to $4.9m in 2024, IBM reports.

Phishing attacks have been on the rise for a long time, with some businesses receiving up to 36 phishing emails per day, and reports reveal a 28% increase in phishing attacks in the second quarter of 2024.

Until recently, phishing attacks were generally impersonal, including only vague information with a reasonably low success rate. However, AI tools are lowering the entry threshold for these types of attacks, with ‘polished and closely targeted’ scams being seen in huge volumes.

“Businesses need a multi-layered approach to avoid any damage as a consequence of phishing attacks.” said Tim Callan, Chief Compliance Officer at Sectigo.

“Employees should be trained in order to be able to realise when they could be targets of phishing attacks, but businesses should also look at tried-and-tested technologies and implement phishing prevention infrastructures through their IT ecosystems.”

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This year Meta’s Quest app (called Meta Horizon) – which is required to set up the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets – once again rocketed to the top spot of the App Store’s free app chart on Christmas day, and I’m hardly surprised the VR headsets were seemingly the top tech gift of 2024.

The Quest success was spotted by Upload VR who noted that this is the third time Meta has achieved this feat – with it doing so in 2021, 2023, and now 2024 (it missed out in 2022, with that being blamed on the controversial Meta Quest 2 price hike).

Adding to the Meta Quest 3 and 3S’ success are Amazon sales figures, with Amazon.com saying the Quest 3S was bought by over 100,000 people in the past month, and the Quest 3 was bought by over 50,000 Amazon shoppers (together, that’s well over the number of PS5, PS5 Pros, and Xbox Series S and X models sold in the same month combined); it seems shoppers took advantage of those excellent Black Friday Meta Quest deals we saw in the run up to Christmas.

But beyond sales making the VR headsets look like an even better deal than usual, I’m not surprised the Meta Quest 3 and 3S proved popular – and those of you without one should consider changing that and joining all those Christmas buyers.

VR is better than its ever been

(Image credit: Meta)

In 2024, the biggest reason you should get a VR headset (specifically a Meta Quest 3 or 3S) is that the devices feel like they’ve truly come into their own. There’s a fantastic suite of games and apps across various genres and uses – you can become Batman, experience immersive simulators, watch TV and play non-VR games on massive virtual screens, and even use it for work with productivity tools.

And this is across both fully immersive VR, and the blended real and virtual experiences offered by mixed reality (MR); thanks to the decent-quality, full-color cameras on these Quest 3 headsets, booting up an MR app feels like a worthwhile experience rather than simply a novelty, as has been the case in the past.

Additionally, while I think the full-on Meta Quest 3 is worth the price bump, the Meta Quest 3S costing only $299.99 / £289.99 / AU$499.99 means it delivers superb bang for your buck. Yes, the displays aren’t as crisp and it’s bulkier, but the Quest 3S’ games and apps still run just as well as they would on the pricier system, and the price is much easier to justify to yourself – or your parents if you wanted it as a gift – when you’re looking to pick up a gadget.

Plus, as standalone headsets, these systems don’t require any extras like a PC or PS5 – unlike the PSVR 2 headset, for example. This makes it easier to set the systems up for newcomers to VR or gaming, and reduces the effective cost of the systems.

Oh, and that Batman experience I mentioned – which is titled Batman: Arkham Shadow – is being included with Quest 3 purchases for free until the end of April 2025. It’s a truly superb game, a must-play for Batman fans, and only goes to further sweeten the deal for anyone interested in picking up either the 3 or 3S.

If that’s you – or you’ve already snagged one – then I’d recommend also browsing my picks for my favorite VR games and apps of 2024 so you can download them and start your Meta Quest 3 journey off right.

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• Creature Commandos episode 6 reveals the DCU's Batman for the first time
• The Dark Knight can be seen near the end of the Max show's latest chapter
• There's still no word on who'll play him in James Gunn's rebooted superhero franchise

Creature Commandos episode 6 has provided a first official look at the DC Cinematic Universe's (DCU) Batman, and it's a justifiable disappointment.

The Max show's penultimate episode, titled 'Priyalat Skelet', gives us our best look yet at the DCU's take on the legendary crimefighter. Well, if you discount Batman's appearance in Creature Commandos episode 4's harrowing Justice League premonition.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Creature Commandos' latest chapter, so turn back now if you haven't seen it yet.

Oh no, it's The Bat! (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

So, when does Batman show up? The Caped Crusader can be seen in the final flashback of Doctor Phosphorus's tragic backstory. After the irradiated supervillain enacts revenge on Rupert Thorne for killing his wife and son, Phosphorus takes control of Thorne's Gotham City-based criminal empire. A montage of Phosphorus reimagining Thorne's enterprise in his own image follows, with the former scientist clearly trying to use his newfound status and wealth to replace what he's lost and bury his trauma.

Unfortunately, Phosphorus's days as a Gotham crime lord are numbered. During a party at one of Phosphorus's night clubs, the lights suddenly go out. Unsure what's going on, Phosphorus looks up at the night club's skylight to see the Dark Knight gazing down at the criminals on display. A flash of lightning – a pleasing nod to the beloved Batman: The Animated Series' intro sequence – lights up the sky behind Batman. We don't get to see what happens next but, considering Phosphorus is one of the five metahumans incarcerated at Belle Reve Penitentiary at the start of Creature Commandos, it's clear he was apprehended by Bruce Wayne's vigilante and sent to jail.

The DCU's Batman was first spotted during Circe's premonition in episode 4 (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

Really, we should've expected Batman to appear at some point in one of the best Max shows. Phosphorus is just one of many members of Batman's iconic rogues gallery, so it makes sense that he'd run into the legendary superhero in this DCU Chapter One project.

What's less surprising is the fact that we still don't know who'll play Bruce Wayne and his brooding alias in the DCU. Batman doesn't speak in the R-rated animated show's sixth episode, so nobody isn't credited as playing him in Creature Commandos' latest instalment. DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran haven't found somebody to play him in Warner Bros' rebooted superhero franchise, either. Indeed, The Brave and the Bold, the first Batman-fronted project in the DCU, is still in very early development, so it'll be some time before a cast announcement is made. In short: Batman's appearance in Creature Commandos isn't as satisfying or stunning as it could've been but, given the circumstances, his silent cameo is nonetheless forgivable.

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