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• An accurate recreation of the Nintendo Switch 2 logo may have surfaced
• It indicates that the logo will be the same as that as the Nintendo Switch, albeit with a large 2 added
• It follows an abundance of other recent Nintendo Switch 2 leaks

It’s clear that Nintendo has lost control of the narrative surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, with other companies showing off detailed mockups allegedly based on the unreleased console at CES 2025 and an apparent photo of its controller hitting social media just a few days ago. Now we might even know what the console’s logo looks like, all before it's been officially unveiled.

According to Felipe Lima, the co-creator of Brazilian Nintendo fan site Universo Nintendo, the Nintendo Switch 2 logo will look an awful lot like the emblem for the original Nintendo Switch. It will feature a prominent '2', however, clearly differentiating it from its predecessor.

In a recent X / Twitter post which we have machine translated, Lima claims that the information comes from “a reliable source” that was able to send them an image of the console itself. They even offer their own recreation of the logo, presumably in an effort to avoid a copyright takedown notice, which they state is “exactly like” the real thing.

Previous leaks have also hinted that the new console will feature very similar branding to the Nintendo Switch, which lends Lima’s claims some credibility. With alleged photos of the controllers out in the wild, it also doesn't seem implausible that they might have been able get their hands on an image showing the whole thing.

I do have to say, however, that if this leak is accurate it’s hardly the most exciting news. I have always loved the imaginative branding of Nintendo consoles, whether that’s the brilliant Nintendo DS or older favorites like the Nintendo GameCube. Labeling a product the 'Nintendo Switch 2' seems pretty tame and much more in line with the naming conventions of competitors like Sony and its PlayStation lineup.

Even so, it could provide an interesting insight into how Nintendo views the upcoming system. This is definitely shaping up to be much more of an iterative release than what we’ve seen in the past, but I’m still optimistic that some cool new feature (potentially the ability to use the Joy-Con controllers like a mouse) will help set it apart.

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2024 has been a year of rapid AI adoption, with many businesses scrambling to capitalize on the latest advancements for fear of being left behind. However, despite significant investment, organizations often struggle to realize tangible benefits from their AI initiatives. In fact, reports suggest that while 68% of large companies have integrated AI, a quarter of IT professionals regret rapid AI adoption, and two-thirds wish they had chosen technologies more carefully.

Arguably, the root of this issue lies in a lack of control. Organizations are struggling to implement AI tools in a manner that not only brings benefits, but also does not compromise their data privacy. In 2025, businesses need to ensure they choose the right AI tool for the job while retaining the control and privacy their data needs.

Identify why you want an AI tool

Before embarking on an AI initiative, it's crucial to define clear objectives. What specific problem are you trying to solve? What value do you expect to derive from AI? Is it threat intelligence, enhanced decision-making, or improved customer experience? It is only once these goals are identified that a business can know what type of AI they need.

Crucial to this is finding the right tool for the job. The first step is to understand that while Large Language Models (LLMs) have been dominating the headlines and fueling the hype, they are not the only form of AI model. Instead, there are a number of different tools available that are focused on specialist tasks and solutions that may not only be more suitable, but also more able.

This is because specialist AI is designed to tackle a specific task as opposed to being trained to offer a solution for everyone – both professionally and personally. What’s more, unlike LLMs, which are trained on vast, often uncurated datasets, specialist AI models focus only on relevant data, resulting in higher accuracy and efficiency. Finally, specialist AI models are more efficient in terms of computational resources and energy consumption, making them more cost-effective, less environmentally impactful, and faster to implement.

It is crucial to consider all options when seeking the right tool for the job to make sure you retain control of your data and are focused on the job, not the hype. After all, if you choose the wrong tool then you will lose control of your data the second you sign in.

The right data and the right privacy

A heavily touted advantage of LLMs is that they are trained on vast amounts of data and are therefore able to provide insights and generate content for organizations from all industries and regions. However, while this is indeed an advantage for people looking for a tool able to provide such scope, in most business cases this is in fact a negative.

This is because being trained on such huge pools of data can cause a reduction in the quality, accuracy, and integrity of that data. What’s more, it is often difficult to discover what data the LLM was specifically trained on in order to validate it. This is a particular challenge for businesses who need a high degree of transparency and accuracy with their outputs as LLMs have been shown to be prone to hallucinations and biases as a result of learning from such vast and varied data.

Specialist AI tools, meanwhile, can offer users the option to choose the data the model is trained on with the customer able to see and curate those sources with transparency. For example a Small Language Model (SLM) AI tool can be fed a number of sources in the form of thesauruses so it can accurately understand the specific needs of a user – this includes not just languages in a formal sense, but also the ability to understand the technical jargon and expertise of a company’s industry as well as that company’s own annotations and coded shorthands. This can offer a highly efficient approach for an organization when it comes to AI adoption as it is the tool that is adapted to the user, rather than staff having to be trained for the tool.

A further aspect to consider is the privacy of that data. It is crucial that any data an organization gives an AI tool to tailor its training and make it work for them is kept private and confidential and not shared externally. This is important not just to protect a business from breaches and to keep their sensitive and confidential information secret, but also for regulatory and legal reasons with many industries having strict control over many aspects of financial, health, and PII data. This also goes for data used as part of prompts and AI analysis once the tool is being used too, with any data that passes through or is subjected to an AI tool needing to be secure and private.

For example, LLMs often require vast amounts of data to be shared with third-party providers. This can pose significant risks to sensitive information, particularly for businesses operating in highly regulated industries. In contrast, private AI models, such as specialist AI, can be deployed within a secure, zero-trust environment, ensuring that data remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access.

By opting for a private AI solution, organizations can safeguard their intellectual property and maintain control over their data, mitigating the potential for data breaches and reputational damage. They are therefore able to use the AI with even their most confidential and regulated data as opposed to having to limit it to publicly available material, thus maximizing the potential gains of the tool.

Integration, control and security

It is imperative that an organization has complete control over how the AI is implemented into their workflow and system with all data access tightly controlled and transparent. This is particularly important in industries working with sensitive and regulated data as they need to be able to report on how that data has been used and who has had access to it.

The importance of this has been highlighted in 2024 by a number of surveys and reports uncovering the prevalence of data exposure due to AI tools. For example, research by Syrenis found that 71% of AI users regret sharing their data with AI tools after realizing the extent of what was shared, while a RiverSafe survey of CISOs revealed that one in five UK companies exposed sensitive corporate data as a result of employees using AI tools.

To put it bluntly, if an AI tool, or indeed any tool, harvests a business's data or shares their information externally, then that business is at risk of a breach and could be at risk of failing compliance requirements.

When implementing new AI tools pay close attention to how they are integrated within a business's existing architecture and ensure that it does not require data to be stored outside of your control. For example, if a business chooses to use a cloud-based AI tool, it is crucial to ensure they have the ability to either host that cloud structure on their own system, or to prevent third-party access to the data and protect it from cyberattacks such as ransomware. This can be achieved through combining the cloud provider’s infrastructure with your own decentralized storage, for example blockchain, and implementing strict access control and encryption.

These same encryption and access measures can also ensure you have control over what data is accessed and by who, ensuring that your information is protected by least privileged access with nobody able to access data they do not need. Homomorphic encryption can also ensure that data can remain encrypted at rest, in transit and in use with search and computations possible on the fully encrypted data. However, while the security and privacy of the data is crucial, it is also important to check the scalability and speed of the system to ensure the AI is able to provide the real-time insights and services that are needed in today’s market.

Final thoughts

The successful implementation of AI hinges on a balanced approach that prioritizes control, data privacy, and security. By carefully selecting AI tools tailored to specific needs, prioritizing data quality and transparency, and implementing robust security measures, organizations can harness the power of AI while mitigating potential risks.

As the AI landscape continues to evolve, it is imperative to stay informed about emerging technologies and best practices to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically. By adopting a proactive and strategic approach, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI and drive innovation while safeguarding their interests by retaining control.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• January is historically a busy month for fitness and gyms
• The second Tuesday of January is often referred to as Quitter's Day
• Strava says it has been the most common activity break for its users every year for more than five years.

If you've returned from the holidays to find your gym mobbed by the teeming masses of January fitness enthusiasts, then you don't have long to wait before people start to fall off the wagon and things quieten down again.

Every year, people flock to the gym hoping to kickstart their New Year's resolutions and finally tackle that health push they've been talking about. As we all know though, plenty of those who've started won't finish. It's a tale as old as time.

Not only is the January fall-off an age-old tale in fitness circles, it's also a scientifically proven phenomenon. Strava has the data to prove it, such that it can predict the exact date every year, and Quitter's Day 2025 is fast approaching – here's when your gym will start to quieten down.

When is Quitter's Day 2025?

(Image credit: Future)

Strava says that Quitter's Day falls on the second Tuesday of January each year. For more than five years, it's been the most common activity break for Strava users, and this year it falls on January 14.

So if you head to your gym on that day and think to yourself that things are a little quieter than they've been for the last couple of weeks, you probably aren't imagining it.

Not that we're rooting for anyone to fail, of course. In fact, Strava has released a slew of helpful tips backed by new data to help people keep up their fitness commitments in 2025.

Strava, one of the best fitness apps, especially for outdoor adventurers, says the most popular goal-setting trend is a week-by-week approach. In any given month only one-third of Strava runners who met or were close to meeting their goals actually tracked perfectly against them. There are also seasonal cycles – runners are most likely to be on track in the summer months (in the US and UK) of July through September, while January and February are the months athletes are least likely to be hitting their goals.

Tips from Strava to stay on top of your goals include joining a running club or working out in a group, introducing variety to keep things fresh, and making rest a priority.

So if you are starting to feel that January struggle, try those helpful tips, and know that if you make it past January 14 then that's a big deal. And if you're a more committed fitness enthusiast you can start counting down the days until you're able to find a bit more space in the locker room, and – finally – some free treadmills.

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It’s official: Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked showcase is set for January 22, meaning we haven’t got long to wait before the curtain is lifted on what could be some of the most exciting (and bar-setting) consumer tech of 2025.

But what, specifically, are we expecting to see unveiled in San Jose this year? Naturally, Samsung itself hasn’t confirmed anything just yet, but countless leaks and rumors have got us excited for the potential reveal of new Galaxy phones, software features, and maybe even an all-new premium mixed reality headset.

Below, we’ve rounded up five of the biggest announcements to expect at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

At this point, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been the subject of more leaks than the Titanic, and we’re fairly certain that this presumed successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra will spearhead Samsung’s next flagship smartphone lineup.

As for what upgrades the Galaxy S25 Ultra could bring to the table, we’ve heard talk of a more rounded design (akin to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 16 Pro Max), a 6.9-inch display, a new 50MP ultra-wide camera, 25W wireless charging, and a new 16GB RAM capacity (in the 512GB model, at least).

These upgrades will almost certainly be underpinned by the all-new (and all-powerful) Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which has already made a name for itself in the OnePlus 13 and Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Having put Qualcomm’s latest mobile silicon through a series of benchmark tests, TechRadar’s US Mobiles Editor, Philip Berne, said the Snapdragon 8 Elite “will change everything about smartphones,” so the Galaxy S25 Ultra looks set to be a very powerful handset indeed (expect it to dominate best Android phone conversations in 2025).

Samsung Galaxy S25

The Galaxy S25 could look a lot like the Galaxy S24 (pictured) (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)

The Galaxy S25 Ultra won’t be the only new smartphone kid on the block this month. The new flagship model will almost certainly be joined by two base-level devices, which we’re expecting to be the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus.

Like their expected Ultra-branded sibling, both the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus are likely to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (there’s a slight chance that Samsung could deploy the Exynos 2500 in certain regions) and boast more rounded designs than their respective predecessors. Other rumored upgrades include 12GB of RAM for all storage configurations and support for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging.

Interestingly, we’ve heard talk of a Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim potentially debuting at Galaxy Unpacked this year, but the tipsters are divided over that model’s ETA. If indeed we do see a svelte version of Samsung’s new base model announced in January, it isn’t likely to begin shipping until later in the year, but it’s nonetheless exciting to think that a smartphone-related surprise could be on the cards in San Jose.

Galaxy AI

Circle to Search on the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung is going hard on AI-related marketing for its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked showcase, suggesting big Galaxy AI upgrades are on the agenda. Accompanying copy for the company’s event announcement reads: “Get ready for AI that is more natural and intuitive. The next evolution of Galaxy AI is coming and it’s going to change the way you interact with the world every day. The new Galaxy S series is about to set the bar once again for mobile AI experiences now and into the future.”

In other words, some big new software features look set to debut alongside those aforementioned phones. Among them will almost certainly be a major upgrade for Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant, and prominent leaker @UniverseIce claims that Galaxy Unpacked will see Samsung “tell Apple what leading AI is" and that "many new AI functions of [the] S25 have not been leaked so far.” Apple Intelligence, who?

Samsung Galaxy Ring 2

The original Galaxy Ring was announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2024 (Image credit: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy Ring was teased at last year’s January Unpacked event and only went on sale as recently as July, but reports suggest Samsung could pull the same trick with the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 at this year’s January Unpacked event.

Of course, we don’t expect to hear (or see) much about this potential successor to the best smart ring on the market in San Jose. But Samsung will reportedly offer us an "introduction" to the Galaxy Ring 2 at Unpacked, with the new device rumored to boast more accurate sensors, improved AI, and better battery life.

Project Moohan

Samsung's Project Moohan mixed-reality headset (Image credit: Google)

Project Moohan, Samsung's mixed-reality headset and “the first platform built entirely for the Gemini era,” was technically announced in December last year, but there’s a chance that Samsung could give Unpacked attendees a chance to try out the Android XR-based product (or some version of it) for themselves on the ground in San Jose.

Project Moohan is still just a developer kit, but Google and Samsung have confirmed that "the first products based on this platform will launch in 2025,” so a close-to-finished wearable device must surely be just around the corner. Here’s hoping, anyway.

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In today’s fast-evolving world, the drive for digital transformation has become more complex and nuanced than ever. Organizations aiming to harness the benefits of this transformation now face a landscape shaped not only by technological advances but also by economic uncertainly, an unstable geo-political landscape and environmental challenges.

It’s why the role of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) has never been more important. Tasked with guiding organizations through this digital overhaul, CDOs are pivotal in aligning data management with strategic objectives.

However, the challenges that come with this task are so vast and intricate that they cannot meet these demands alone – technology in all its forms, partners including governments, and employees – all play a role in modernizing organizations to drive value for all stakeholders.

Harnessing new technology – the role of AI

One of the most powerful tools in the CDO’s arsenal today is artificial intelligence (AI). With intuitive, code-free interfaces, AI offers immense potential to streamline data management and bridge gaps in technical knowledge across teams.

Generative AI, in particular, can greatly enhance user experiences by quickly synthesizing and delivering valuable insights. However, the potential of these technologies is strictly contingent on the quality of the underlying data. For Generative AI to be effective, it requires rigorous data quality standards to avoid common pitfalls like data drift and hallucination, where the AI might generate irrelevant or inaccurate information.

Integrating Generative AI into the Shared Services sector has elevated key functions such as payroll, skillset analysis, deployment strategies, and even manufacturing capabilities. Such applications underscore the role of AI not just as an automation tool, but as an essential collaborator in digital transformation.

The need for greater collaboration and its role in digital transformation

Yet, technology alone cannot drive the kind of transformation that today’s organizations require. Meaningful change demands collaboration which is especially critical in sectors like defense, where data-driven strategies are central to mission success. By enhancing decision-making and situational awareness, advanced data analytics and AI tools have proven to be invaluable in defense operations, from logistics to supply chain management.

The ultimate objective of digital transformation in defense is to build a military force that is agile, informed, and ready to respond to a diverse set of threats.

However, achieving this goal is no small feat. Defense organizations, often reliant on complex legacy systems, face significant hurdles when integrating new technologies into existing infrastructures. Consider how different pieces of military equipment must work together in the field.

Cross-industry data standards are crucial to ensuring that equipment developed by different companies can interoperate seamlessly—whether in intelligence, surveillance, or tactical operations.

Collaboration tools have become essential in this context, allowing stakeholders to share critical documents, data, and insights in real-time. The industry has taken a step forward by working with government partners to establish shared data standards, a move that not only enhances decision-making but also lays the groundwork for improved interoperability across the defense sector.

While the defense sector’s needs are unique, its lessons around agile delivery, cross-organizational collaboration, and rigorous data management have the potential to drive innovation much more widely.

In a world where change is the only constant, digital transformation will remain challenging.

Only through a blend of advanced technology, robust data practices and strong collaboration, can CDOs and their organizations lay a solid foundation to overcome these challenges.

When harnessed effectively, these tools and strategies can unlock unprecedented potential, driving innovation and resilience across a great variety of industries and organizations.

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• Amazon Web Services announces $11 billion investment plan in Georgia
• The funding will support AI data centers in Butts and Douglas counties
• At least 550 high-skilled roles will be created as a result, says Amazon

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced an estimated $11 billion in funding to expand its cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Georgia.

The company’s plans come in response to ever-increasing demand for compute power following a surge in artificial intelligence technologies, many of which are hosted on its servers.

Amazon says although its GPUs are capable of running AI and ML models, they can also be tweaked to efficiently run more traditional workloads, so their uses won’t just be limited to intense work.

AWS invests $11 billion in Georgia

As part of the investment, Amazon hopes to support at least 550 new high-skilled jobs in the region. The company as a whole, including its ecommerce business and other divisions, already employs 34,000 full and part-time workers in the state.

Details of AWS’s upcoming investments in Georgia have not been revealed, but the company did confirm Butts and Douglas counties will benefit from the cash injection, towards the center and north of the state.

Of the $1.2 trillion Amazon has invested across the US since 2010, Georgia has received $18.5 billion in funding, or 1.54%.

“We are excited to deepen our partnership with the state of Georgia and contribute to the continued advancement of its thriving technology landscape," noted AWS VP of Economic Development Roger Wehner.

Douglas County Commission Chairwoman Dr Romona Jackson Jones added: “We are pleased to welcome AWS to bring the most secure, resilient, and advanced cloud computing technology to the county, and with it hundreds of high-paying, high-tech jobs that will benefit our community and our citizens for the long term.”

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• Microsoft is focused on AI-powered Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs for the foreseeable future
• October 14, 2025 is still Windows 10’s deprecation date, pushing users toward Windows 11 or newer PCs
• Microsoft's deep AI integration in Copilot+ PCs aims to redefine how we interact with our PCs but raises concerns

At CES 2025, we’ve seemingly just had confirmation that Microsoft is not releasing the next generation of Windows, which many of us assume will be called Windows 12, just yet. Instead, Microsoft is pushing ahead with its vision of AI-powered PCs (which it calls Copilot+ PCs) and intends to continue to integrate artificial intelligence into Windows 11.

Microsoft, eager to capitalize on AI buzz, is betting big on tools like ChatGPT and its own AI assistant, Copilot, which is accessible directly from the taskbar, becoming an everyday part of our digital work and personal lives.

According to Windows Latest, Microsoft claims that Copilot+ PCs are up to 50% faster than an M3 MacBook. From the Copilot+ PCs we’ve reviewed so far, such as the Surface Laptop 7, we’ve certainly been impressed with their performance, though the jury is still out on whether the AI features are all that useful.

(Image credit: Lenovo) Windows 10's departure and Microsoft's unwavering focus on its AI vision

There is also an emphasis on future versions of Windows 11 because Windows 10 is nearing its end-of-support date, which is on October 14, 2025. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and consumer Chief Marketing Officer, reinforced this at CES 2025, stating that Windows 10 is still on track to be deprecated on this date.

When October 14 rolls around, Microsoft will stop releasing regular updates (including security updates) for Windows 10 and after that, you’ll either have to buy a newer Windows 11 PC or pay for extra security updates for a limited time (and it’s clear that Microsoft would rather all Windows 10 users upgrade to Windows 11).

So, it looks like Windows 12 won’t be coming in the foreseeable future as Microsoft is focusing on getting its users to upgrade to Windows 11. It’s also focusing on winning over people with its Copilot+ PCs, offering a pretty bold vision of what these devices will be capable of and how much they’ll change how we interact with our PCs. Windows Latest points out that Windows 11 came out during the pandemic when people were buying new PCs and Microsoft saw an opportunity for a PC sales push, and that it’ll wait for another opportunity like this to launch Windows 12 (though hopefully not another global pandemic).

I can see why some people are perhaps disappointed that we’re not getting a bold new operating system, or reluctant to move on from Windows 10, which is still very much Microsoft’s most popular operating system. I also think that Microsoft has a long way to go to actually convincing people that its AI improvements are worth people’s time, as so far, features like Copilot and Recall, have been shown to be somewhat lackluster or just outright risky in terms of aspects like security. I don’t think it’s impossible for Microsoft to pull off its ambitions, but that ends up being so will depend to innovations that it has yet to show.

I do think Microsoft has a chance here to experiment with integrating AI-powered software and tools into Windows 11, and there's certainly huge potential for artificial intelligence to redefine how we interact with PCs.

However, experiments come with risks, and Microsoft would be remiss not to learn from this venture and it should pay attention closely to feedback from its users. If its involvement with AI doesn't succeed (or at least not immediately), I think it should consider designing Windows 12 with an option to operate without heavy AI integration, using Windows 12 as a clean break should its AI gamble not pay off.

In the meantime, I'm glad that Microsoft doesn't appear to be distracted with making Windows 12 whilst there's still a lot of work to be done with Windows 11 to make it more popular - especially as there will soon be a lot of Windows 10 users looking to upgrade.

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President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10 in New York. His latest legal move to block sentencing comes after a New York appeals court rejected a similar appeal Tuesday.

(Image credit: Scott Olson)

• Squid Game season 2 continues to break on Netflix after its December 26, 2024 launch
• The hit show's latest season has been viewed by 126.2 million people
• It's still got a long way to go to usurp its forebear as the most-watched non-English TV Original, though

Squid Game season 2 arrived over the 2024 festive season and, unsurprisingly, it's continuing to break records on Netflix.

As revealed by the streaming titan during this week's update to its Top 10 lists, one of the best Netflix shows' second season is dominating its competitors in the non-English language category. Indeed, its closest rival, which is – funnily enough – Squid Game's debut season, simply can't compete in the viewership stakes, with season 2 accruing four times as many minutes streamed as its predecessor over the past seven days (December 31 to January 7). If this was a real-life version of the eponymous battle royale-style games, Squid Game's sophomore season would've already walked away with the prize money.

That said, season 2 has a long way to go in order to become the most-watch non-English Netflix original series of all-time. Ironically, it's currently being kept off top spot by – yep, you guessed it – Squid Game season 1. So, how close is season 2 getting to potentially knocking its predecessor off its perch? Well, it's got a long way to go, and the below data suggests...

How many people have watched Squid Game season 2?

(Image credit: Netflix)

At the time of writing, Squid Game season 2 has been seen 126.2 million times in its first two weeks on the world's best streaming service – that's a record for a Netflix TV Original, by the way – with a total of 904.7 million hours viewed.

By comparison, the first season was watched by over 265 million people and has amassed an eye-watering 2.2 billion hours viewed since its mid-2021 release. With numbers like that, I doubt this season will come close to matching its forebear's unprecedented success.

Nevertheless, there's been plenty of promotional material, for Squid Game season 2, not to mention fan fervor for the hit show's return, which has no doubt contributed to its recent success. Recently, Duolingo launched a terrifying campaign to try and encourage people to learn Korean, playing on the brand's creepy vibes which teamed scarily well with the Squid Game pink guards.

If season 2 doesn't manage to defeat season 1, it'll be up to the survival drama's third and final entry to try and do so. Squid Game season 3 is set to arrive sometime this year, too, so we may not have long to wait for an answer to that brain-teaser.

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• Vay is expanding its Las Vegas fleet of EVs to over 100 cars.
• Unlike a ride share, Vay remotely drives a car to you that you'll then take over, and remotely takes it back when you're done.
• Since its launch in 2024, more than 6,000 rides have been taken.

While the automotive attention at the CES 2025 is spotlighting fully autonomous, there is some momentum with remotely driven vehicles as well. Case and point: Vay, which operates a fleet of these in Las Vegas, Nevada, is announcing a sizeable expansion.

With Vay, you can hail a car that will be yours to drive, but you won’t need to go to a rental car lot to pick one up. Instead, within the app – much like Uber, Lyft, or Revel – you’ll call the car to you, and it will be remotely driven to the requested spot. Then, you hop in, take control, use the car, and then return it within the zone.

I actually got to try this experience on day one of CES, and I will share my thoughts soon. For now, know that it’s cool, and a disruptor, offering a typical rideshare experience but with way more control.

(Image credit: Vay)

While Vay has been available in Las Vegas for a While, it’s announcing that it will expand its fleet to 100 vehicles by the end of 2025. These will all be electric cars, with most popular model being the Kia e-Niro. Since Vay debuted in 2024, users have taken more than 6,000 rides.

To support the expansion, which will ultimately make it easier to get a car with Vay in the city and reduce wait times, the company is opening a new production facility within Las Vegas to help get these vehicles out on the road quicker. These aren't fully autonomous vehicles, it's primarily a camera-based experience, and the Vay employees remotely operating the cars essentially use a live feed to drive them in custom rigs. Vay will also hire more staff to meet the demand.

The hope is that once the facility is up and running, it can roll out up to 16 cars a week and get those on the road. Vay already has a maintenance facility within Las Vegas to ensure the electric vehicles are always charges and are operating smoothly.

(Image credit: Future)

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

While Vay is more like a delivered-to-you rental car operation than a ride share service, its growing popularity is undoubtedly thanks to cost and the overall experience. It can be cheaper than Uber or Lyft, and while it does require more work on your part, and the coverage map for where you can get the car or drop it off is more limited, it lets you be in total control.

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• Green Bay Packers has notified customers of an October 2024 incident
• The threat actors installed a skimmer on the team's online store
• An unknown number of people lost their credit card information

Fans of the Green Bay Packers NFL team looking to buy merch from the team’s ecommerce site may have had their sensitive data stolen, including payment information, the team has revealed.

I a data breach notification letter sent out to affected customers, the team spotted malicious code inserted in the Pro Shop website on October 23, and temporarily disabled all payment and checkout capabilities. It then brought in third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate, who determined an unknown threat actor had deployed a skimmer on the checkout page, which was active across September 23 and 24, and October 3 - 24.

On those days, the crooks managed to steal people’s names, addresses (both billing and shipping), email addresses, credit card types, credit card numbers, credit card expiration dates, and credit card verification numbers. More than enough to run wire fraud, identity theft, phishing, and more.

Contained and remedied

Purchases on the Pro Shop website that were made using a gift card, Pro Shop website account, PayPal, or Amazon Pay, were not affected, the company confirmed.

The incident has since been contained and remedied, Green Bay Packers said, adding its IT team, together with third-party cybersecurity experts, made sure the shop was now secure. “We also worked with our vendors that host and manage the Pro Shop website to confirm enhancements to their security protocols,” it said.

Customers are being offered 36 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services through Experian, but they will have to enroll themselves, since Green Bay Packers cannot activate the service on their behalf.

We don’t know exactly how many people might have been affected by this attack, and there is currently no information of the stolen data being misused anywhere on the dark web.

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• The US Government is introducing a "Cyber Trust Mark" for consumer devices
• Devices will have to meet criteria set by the NIST
• This aims to build consumer trust in internet connected products

The White House has announced the ‘U.S. Cyber Trust Mark’, a labeling initiative looking to build trust in the consumer device market.

The Mark will act as an indicator that the product being sold has met the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity criteria.

As ‘smart’ wireless internet connected devices have entered more homes across the country, so has the security risk that comes with hackable tech. Appliances and tech like home security systems, smart speakers, and internet connected kitchen or cleaning devices all present cybersecurity risks if compromised by threat actors.

A mark of confidence

After passing a bipartisan vote to authorize the program and trademark the shield logo that will be applied to products which fit the criteria, the FCC gave conditional approval to 11 companies as ‘Cybersecurity Label Administrators’, including Intertek Testing Services NA, and ioXt Alliance.

The criteria for the NIST standards includes strong default passwords, patching, data protection frameworks, and cyber incident detections. Firms like Best Buy and Amazon have expressed their support for the program, highlighting the opportunity to build consumer trust.

Not everyone is so enthusiastic about the initiative, with some concerned about the lack of rigorous testing for vendors, and pointing out that the mark does not include binding security requirements for vendors.

Whilst most agree the program is a step in the right direction, many of the security requirements are merely suggestions, as the entire program is voluntary. This may lead to inconsistency between vendors, and makes it unclear which companies are actually working to secure their devices.

Customers will scan a QR code on products with the safety mark to access information from an IoT registry, which is more convoluted than, for example, the FCC safety mark which one can assume is safe with a reasonable assurance.

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• Data from unlicensed Microsoft OneDrive accounts will be archived after 93 days beginning this month
• After a further 93 days, it will be deleted forever
• Act quickly (and pay a fee) to restore access

Back in August 2024, Microsoft warned users with unlicensed OneDrive cloud storage accounts that they would be locked after a period of inactivity to improve security.

The change is on track to come in on January 27, 2025, with OneDrive data from unlicensed accounts which have been inactive for 93 days set to be removed or archived.

Such accounts typically come about when individuals leave an organization, if a user is deleted from the SharePoint admin center or if an admin revokes a user’s license.

Unlicensed OneDrive account holders, beware

Prior to the change, organizations were able to retain data for free by disabling accounts and removing licenses, however Microsoft has decided this is a security and compliance risk and will therefore be enforcing its new policy later this month.

After 93 days, affected data will move to the recycle bin. After a further 93 days in the recycle bin, the data will be permanently deleted.

Retention policies or legal holds on data from unlicensed accounts will cause the data to be archived rather than permanently deleted, however organizations will be charged $0.60/GB to regain access and a $0.05/GB monthly fee thereafter.

A help article details the process of setting up an Azure subscription in Syntex pay-as-you-go, and notes it could take up to 24 hours for the data to become accessible again. Reactivated accounts will remain active for a further 30 days before being automatically archived again.

The company confirmed: “Archived OneDrive accounts fully honor retention policies, settings, and litigation holds.” Changes to retention policies will also be reflected in archived accounts.

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People in Venezuela have increasingly turned to VPN services, yet again, as authorities restrict access to TikTok.

Proton VPN confirmed to TechRadar that sign-ups across the country have spiked 350% so far, and usage is still increasing at the time of writing (see graph below).

This surge comes as TikTok is being disrupted in Venezuela, "following a pattern of daily multi-hour restrictions from midnight," internet watchdog NetBlocks reported today, January 8, 2025. The block comes because the popular Chinese video-sharing app failed to comply with the eight-day deadline issued by Venezuela's Supreme Court to appoint a local representative.

. (Image credit: Proton)

This isn't the first time, however, that Venezuela restricts access to a popular social media app.

In August, President Nicolás Maduro banned X for 10 days over a public row with owner Elon Musk, while calling for a boycott on WhatsApp. At that time, Maduro also said the social media platform was used to incite violence and create political unrest – the Guardian reported.

Multiple websites were reportedly blocked in the aftermath of Venezuela's presidential elections, too, as protests contesting the results sparked across the country at the end of July.

Do you know?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts your internet connections, while also spoofing your real IP address location. The latter skill is exactly what's needed to bypass restrictions like those in place in Venezuela right now.

"During this period, Proton VPN became a lifeline for many Venezuelans seeking access to accurate information on the internet," a Proton spokesperson told TechRadar.

Over the summer, Proton VPN usage in Venezuela skyrocketed to 51,000% over baseline "making Proton VPN the most downloaded app in the country on Google Play," the expert added.

As citizens turned en masse to these circumventing tools, authorities began targeting VPN usage. Some Proton VPN users, for example, first lamented difficulties accessing their VPN apps ahead of the election. In response, the provider expanded its server capacity to better support Venezuelans' needs.

What's behind Venezuela's TikTok ban?

Venezuela's TikTok block comes a week after the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) fined the social network $10 million for not imposing measures to prevent the spread of viral challenges. These videos are thought to have allegedly led to the deaths of three Venezuelan children recently.

As the Associated Press reported, Judge Tania D’Amelio did not explain how the country expects to force China-based ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to pay the fine.

Among the judge's requests, there is also the requirement for TikTok to open an office within the country to ensure that all shared content complies with local laws.

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• Koorui G7 monitor has been demoed on the show floor at CES 2025
• It uses a TN panel (rather than IPS) to hit that 750Hz refresh rate
• It also offers a 0.5ms response time and more impressive color accuracy than expected with a TN screen

CES 2025 has witnessed a clutch of announcements for gaming monitors that push super-high refresh rates, and we have a new champion on the Hertz battlefield – a 750Hz screen, no less.

This is the Koorui G7 which is being aired at CES as a 24.5-inch Full HD gaming monitor with a refresh rate of 750Hz coupled with a 0.5ms response time.

Koorui, a Chinese vendor you may not have heard of – but will likely be hearing more about – already has quite a number of compellingly priced gaming monitors out there, although naturally, a 750Hz screen won’t come cheap.

The company actually announced the Koorui G7 before CES, but we’ve just got a glimpse of it on the show floor courtesy of a video uploaded to the firm’s YouTube channel – check it out below (you get a brief look at the G7 at the start of the clip – hit the pause button).

Aside from the 750Hz refresh rate, other key specs of the G7 include HDR400 support and 95% DCI-P3 coverage, the latter being impressive seeing as this is a TN panel. Typically, color representation is a weak point of TN compared to IPS (which most monitors still are these days), so it seems Koorui is trying to make sure that the G7 doesn’t fall (too) flat in this respect. (TN panels are a strong choice for gaming monitors due to their inherently fast response times and ability to hit high refresh rates, as we certainly see here – but not their color accuracy, vibrance, or viewing angles).

The Koorui G7 comes with all the usual trimmings, such as a low blue light mode, flicker-free tech, and ergonomics that include height adjustment, tilt and swivel. You’ll also get three HDMI 2.1 ports alongside a DisplayPort 1.4 connector.

Koorui is part of HKC, a display giant over in China, and it’s expected that this monitor will be released at some stage in 2025 (at least in Asia – and hopefully elsewhere around the world, too).

Analysis: Refreshingly pointless?

We’ve already seen new 600Hz monitors at CES 2025 (from MSI and BenQ) which equal the existing 600Hz effort from Acer, the Nitro XV240 F6, a monitor that’s now out in China, and will come to the US and Europe soon.

However, those panels have already been outgunned by this 750Hz effort, and by a long way. The obvious question, though, with these kind of high-end gaming monitors is: how far do we need to go with colossal refresh rates? Isn’t 750Hz getting silly?

Well, we’ve argued in the past that 600Hz is getting into rather ridiculous territory, so 750Hz most certainly is. Will the difference between 600Hz and 750Hz even be noticeable to the average human eye? It won’t, frankly, and as you climb further up the high refresh rate ladder, towards the dizzying heights of 1000Hz (that’ll happen soon enough, no doubt), there are very much diminishing returns.

These displays are really for the top level of competitive gamers out there. For starters, you need to be able to afford a gaming PC to push 600 or 750 frames per second to match that refresh rate (and do so consistently – or ideally as a baseline, even). And even with the less demanding esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, which are made to run smoothly and slickly by keeping the visuals relatively tame, that’s a tricky ask for anything less than a fully-tooled-up hyper-expensive gaming PC.

It is perhaps true that the most skilled pro gamers out there might be able to discern a difference in, say, a 500Hz panel (which OLEDs are now reaching, incidentally) versus a 600Hz or 750Hz monitor. That’d be in terms of the feel of the gameplay – thanks to the smoother and more consistent delivery of frames (better frame time) provided by a superfast refresh rate display. But us mere mortals are not going to perceive this ever-so-slightly steadier nature of a refresh rate beast of a screen.

Still, big numbers are always fun to see, and you can bet on bigger numbers in the not so distant future, no doubt. It’s very much worth remembering, though, that there’s a lot more to a monitor than its refresh rate. I’ll be interested to see how the image quality pans out on this TN panel from Koorui – to find out if this is more of a PR exercise, or a genuinely great gaming screen (for those few who might need it, and can afford it).

Via Notebookcheck.net

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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