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Netflix's new Jeff Goldblum show, Kaos, features the actor playing god: quite literally, because he's the Greek god Zeus. The show is a very modern spin on one of mythology's oldest characters, and while the reviews have been decidedly mixed Kaos looks like it's another big hit for the streamer. And if myths are your thing, there's plenty more best Netflix shows to keep you entertained. Here are three of our favorites with god-like Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Blood of Zeus

Originally known as Gods & Heroes, this adult animated series is set in Ancient Greece and follows Heron, the demigod son of Zeus, as he tries to save both Olympus and Earth. Heron is an invention of the series, although there were plenty of demigods hinted at in the original myths. Season 1 has the full 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and so does the second season. Espinof says it's "one of the most entertaining animated series available". 

According to ScreenAnarchy, "Resplendent in darkly beautiful animation, Blood of Zeus feels like a graphic novel brought to life" while Paste Magazine would clearly give season 2 of the show more than 100% if they could: "We finally have a follow-up season that largely matches and, in many cases, surpasses its predecessor thanks to compelling bad guys, improved visuals, and similarly clever allusions to age-old narratives."

Ragnarok

Now in its third season, Ragnarok takes place in a small town poisoned by pollution and rattled by melting glaciers where the End Times feel imminent. It's a coming-of-age story with a dark mythological twist and some pitch-dark humor, centring on two young men who just happen to be the latest incarnations of Thor, god of thunder, and Loki, god of mischief. 

According to Book and Film Globe: "Ragnarok is awkward and bizarre at its best" and that's a compliment: the original myths are awkward and bizarre too, and "the young characters in this show actually feel genuinely angry in a way that's appropriate for youth, particularly in terms of the kinds of problems youths these days face".

The Sandman

We're in two minds about recommending this given the allegations against creator Neil Gaiman, but it'd be a shame if the great work and performances on display here were overshadowed by its writer. We rated The Sandman very highly, describing it as "oh-so-nearly brilliant" and paying particular regard to a "supremely talented cast who breathe life into The Sandman's eclectic cast of characters":

Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, Jenna Coleman and Mason Alexander Park. It's the story of Morpheus, one of seven mythical beings, who becomes trapped on Earth and who discovers that the Dream Dimension he called home has fallen into ruin. 

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These Anker headphones were already budget friendly, and now they're an extra $50 off during Amazon's Labor Day sale.

The Justice Department alleges the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was purchased in Florida by the Venezuelan leader's associates through a shell company in violation of sanctions and export controls.

(Image credit: Ariana Cubillos)

Research from KnowBe4 reported that critical infrastructure sustained more than 420 million cyber attacks between January 2023 and January 2024, a rise of 30% from the previous year. Physical frameworks such as power grids, transportation, and communications networks are particularly at risk due to the disruption any failures would cause.

As infrastructure across the globe becomes increasingly digitized, reliance on the internet leaves them vulnerable to cyber threats. Power grids in Europe and the United States, for example, are increasingly at risk from a ‘cyberattack deluge’, and have been inundated with attacks by the thousand since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The infrastructure of over 160 countries has been targeted, with the primary target being the US, followed by the UK, Germany, India, and Japan. The threat actors reportedly most often originated from China, Russia, and Iran.

Cyber War

Attacks on infrastructure have the potential to cripple the daily lives of millions, with hospitals and businesses at risk, as well as millions left without access to bank accounts or power. The number of attacks on utilities has quadrupled since 2020. When you consider the heightened physical threat, such as the sabotage of internet cables, there is potential for devastating damage.

Earlier this year, US water networks were identified as a serious target for foreign-backed threat actors. Whilst so far these have only caused minimal disruption, Leonard Birnbaum, chief executive of E.ON, one of Europe’s largest utilities, said that “the crooks are becoming better by the day,” commenting, “I am worried now and I will be even more worried in the future.”

Research suggests that in the event of an attack, it’s most likely that electrical power facilities would be the first target, with railroads, communications, and manufacturing facilities behind. These are, of course, calculated scenarios - but the rise in cyber attacks highlights the need to invest in cyber security now more than ever.

Via KnowBe4

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Cybernews researchers have uncovered a colossal data leak believed to be related to People Data Labs (PDL), a San Francisco-based data broker, containing over 170 million records.

Breached data includes sensitive information like full names, phone numbers, emails, location, skills, professional summaries, education history and employment history, putting those affected at risk of identity theft.

An unprotected Elasticsearch server has been identified as being responsible for the leak, discovered by the team on June 25, indicating that a third party may have been responsible for managing PDL’s data.

PDL data leak includes 170 million records

Although an unknown threat actor is likely responsible for leaking the data, Cybernews has highlighted the poorly protected Elasticsearch server as a key vulnerability.

The team summarized: “The existence of data brokers is already a controversial issue, as they often have insufficient checks and controls to ensure that data doesn’t get sold to the wrong parties.”

If the leak does indeed pertain to PDL, it won’t be the first time the company has been associated with a leak. In October 2019, it was revealed that more than a billion records from the company’s databases were exposed online, believed to have affected 622 million individuals. At the time, PDL said that it wasn’t responsible for the leak.

Cybernews continued: “If this is a new leak, and not processed and enriched data from the 2019 leak by a third party, such an incident would show a high level of ignorance from the company regarding personal data security.”

Those who suspect they may have been affected together with anybody who has received any suspicious emails, or simply those wanting to maintain the highest levels of digital hygiene, should change their passwords regularly and use a trusted password manager, enable two-factor authentication and monitor their accounts.

TechRadar Pro has contacted People Data Labs to confirm its association with this leak, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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Tesla is looking to replace the widely-used Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) with its own offering.

The company says Tesla Transport Protocol over Ethernet (TTPoE) is designed to support high-speed, low-latency communication, especially in environments where reliable data transfer is essential. 

TTPoE, integral to Tesla’s DOJO supercomputer, is optimized for the specific demands of Tesla’s systems, but Elon Musk’s firm is promoting it as a potential new standard for broader use beyond its own operations.

UltraEthernet Consortium

TTPoE is executed entirely in hardware and aids efficient data transmission across Ethernet networks without requiring special switches, instead using standard Layer 2 transport. Unlike lossless RDMA networks, TTPoE anticipates packet loss and includes mechanisms to retry transmissions, making it distinct from traditional protocols like TCP or UDP.

TTPoE offers enhanced security features, such as encryption and authentication, to protect data integrity. This makes it particularly useful in automotive and industrial applications where managing large data sets securely and efficiently is essential.

The protocol also supports scalability, allowing it to meet the growing data demands of modern electric vehicles, including those needed for autonomous driving and over-the-air updates.

The latest information about TTPoE comes from ServeTheHome, which reported on Tesla’s presentation at the Hot Chips 2024 symposium in Stanford, California. Tesla shared details about TTPoE’s architecture and suggested that TTPoE could offer lower one-way write latency over switches, including NVLink. It also announced its participation in the UltraEthernet Consortium (UEC).

You can view some of the slides Tesla shared over at ServeTheHome. The site’s Patrick Kennedy noted, “This is one of those interesting talks, but at some point it would be cool if this was used beyond just DOJO. It feels like a lot of lifting to do making custom NICs, custom protocols, and so forth for a system and not trying to benefit from economies of scale. It was cool to see that Tesla is bringing this to the UltraEthernet Consortium.”

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Meta Connect 2024 is fast approaching, and one of the announcements we’ll almost certainly get on September 25 will be for the Meta Quest 3S. We not only saw a batch of details from regular leakers, Meta itself leaked the headset’s existence twice in recent months, and now FCC and Dekra certifications have further cemented the idea that we’ll see a new VR device soon.

Dekra is an independent product certification company, while the FCC is the United States Government's Federal Communications Commission, and it’s normal for both to check out and certify tech before it’s released to the public. 

91Mobiles has shared details of certifications from each awarded to a new Meta device named ‘P97’ – with Dekra’s document adding that it’s a VR headset.

Even if P97 is somehow a previously unheard-of Meta gadget, given the company’s usual announcement cycle – which involves revealing and releasing new hardware at its annual Meta Connect showcase in late September/early October – these details seemingly confirm we’ll see something on September 25. So if you planned to finally buy a VR headset you might want to wait a little longer to see what Meta showcases.

The VR headset you've been waiting for

(Image credit: Meta)

It’s easy to get hyped for high-end hardware – which is why you might be sad to see reports of the Meta Quest Pro 2’s cancellation, and then happy to hear separate leaks that the Quest Pro 2 has maybe instead morphed into a very different kind of headset – but for me the Quest 3S announcement has me super excited.

I love the Meta Quest 3 – if I didn’t think it was fantastic I wouldn’t have awarded it five stars in our Meta Quest 3 review – but while it’s great value for money it is still a lot pricier than its predecessor the Meta Quest 2, costing $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.99 instead of the earlier version's $299 / £299 / AU$479 at launch.

Rumors suggest the Meta Quest 3S will more closely match the Quest 2’s price, while still packing essential Quest 3 specs like its Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. If these reports are correct then the next-gen VR and MR experiences the Quest 3 offers – like the exclusive Batman: Arkham Shadow game launching later this year – could be a lot more accessible than they have been. 

And more people being able to afford great VR experiences is never a bad thing in my book.

Obviously we’ll have to wait and see what Meta announces – if anything at all. While I’m feeling confident something’s on its way there’s always a chance the leaks have it wrong and the Quest 3S is a myth. I seriously hope it isn’t but we won’t know for sure until September 25. 

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Cybersecurity researchers from Securonix discovered a new threat campaign that included phishing, DLL sideloading, and Cobalt Strike beacons, all using Tencent’s infrastructure, and targeting Chinese entities. Tencent is the largest and most popular cloud service provider in China.

Apparently, the group (which has not been identified and doesn’t seem to resemble any known organization) was sending out phishing emails with attachments discussing “personnel lists” and “people who violated remote control software regulations”.

Given the topics of the phishing files, Securonix speculates that the attackers might have been targeting the government sector, or “specific Chinese related businesses”, since these “would employ individuals who follow ‘remote control software regulations’”.

SLOW#TEMPEST

Among the distributed files were UI.exe, and dui70.dll. The executable file is actually LicensingUI.exe - a legitimate tool that displays information about software licenses and activation. The .DLL file, on the other hand, is an old and vulnerable dynamic link library file that, through sideloading, allows the crook to deploy Cobalt Strike.

"The legitimate file is designed to import several legitimate DLL files, one of which is dui70.dll and should normally reside in C:\Windows\System32. However, thanks to a DLL path traversal vulnerability, any DLL containing the same name can be sideloaded upon the execution of the renamed UI.exe by the LNK file," the researchers said.

Cobalt Strike is a cybersecurity tool used for simulating advanced persistent threats (APTs) in penetration testing, but it is also exploited by malicious actors for command and control operations. In this scenario, it was used to deliver all kinds of malware, including a port forwarding tool, a network reconnaissance tool, a scanner used in red teaming, and many more.

All IP addresses used in the attack were hosted at Tencent, China’s #1 cloud service provider, the researchers added. Furthermore, since the attackers were lurking for more than two weeks before making any moves, the researchers dubbed the attack SLOW#TEMPEST.

Via The Register

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Windows 11 has finally done it and managed to overtake Windows 10 when it comes to market share with PC gamers.

As you might have guessed, this is the Steam Hardware Survey which is conducted every month and is a snapshot of the configurations of the various gaming PCs used on Valve’s platform.

The figures for August 2024 show that Windows 11 has gained 3.36% of Steam users, so now it has a total of 49.17%.

Windows 10 dropped by a proportionate amount, dipping by 3.07% to finish on 47.09% for the month – so there are now over 2% more gamers on Windows 11, than on its predecessor.

Other Windows versions are basically negligible on Steam, with Windows 7 being the only OS worth mentioning, but even that only has 0.37% adoption. Outside of Windows, Linux holds a 1.92% share of gamers, and macOS accounts for 1.3%.

Windows 11 represented 46.63% of gamers on Steam in June, and 47.45% in July, and was increasing in jumps of a percentage point, or half a percent or so, in recent times – so this is a pretty big growth spurt for August.

(Image credit: Microsoft / Valve) Analysis: Sudden surge

We weren’t expecting Windows 11 to outgun Windows 10 quite so quickly, in short. Is there any particular reason for the sudden surge? None that springs to mind, though it could just be that the need to move from Windows 10 is feeling a bit more pressing now there’s not much more than a year left before the older operating system reaches its End of Life (in October 2025).

If you look solely at Windows versions on Steam, Windows 11 now holds just a touch over 50% of that market now.

Sadly for Microsoft, this progress isn’t remotely reflected outside of the world of gaming. For overall users, according to Statcounter, Windows 11 is on 31.6% for August, compared to 64.1% for Windows 10, so the latter still has double the headcount of the former – it’s not even close.

Microsoft will be hoping that overall picture changes radically over the next year, that’s for sure – and AI will be a big part of that drive, wrapped up with Copilot+ PCs which are predicted to do big things in terms of shifting units.

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I don't know about you, dear reader but I can't quite believe the fact that there are (at the time of writing) four months left of 2024. Still, as we wave goodbye to summer – or winter, for those in the southern hemisphere – there's one thing we can all look forward to: plenty of not only potentially great new shows, but also returning favorites.

With that in mind, I've compiled a list of the 14 TV series I can't wait to see between now and December 31 on the world's best streaming services. With multiple genres catered for, I think one or more of the below recommendations will make it onto your 'to watch' list, too. So, let's waste no more time: here are my most anticipated shows (ones that were announced prior to this article's creation, anyway) to stream in late 2024 on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and more.

Slow Horses season 4 (Apple TV Plus)

Release date: September 4

I saw a tweet – are we still calling them that? – from someone recently that suggested this Apple TV Plus show would be a colossal hit if it held a primetime slot on, say, UK terrestrial channel BBC One. And, frankly, it's difficult not to agree with that sentiment. Slow Horses is arguably the most underrated Apple TV Original, with the Gary Oldman-led spy thriller series earning praise and award nominations aplenty from critics and its loyal fanbase alike.

With Slow Horses season 4's imminent release galloping over the horizon, then, now's as good a time as any to binge watch one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' first three seasons, each with just six episodes apiece, ahead of its return. Capisce?

Slow Horses season 4 episode 1 debuts on launch day. New episodes air weekly until October 9.

Agatha All Along (Disney Plus)

Release date: September 18 (US); September 19 (UK and Australia)

Debuting just two weeks before the most haunting month of the year arrives, Agatha All Along will be Marvel's final live-action TV series of 2024. But, with the Kathryn Hahn-fronted WandaVision spin-off reuniting us with fan-favorite character Agatha Harkness for what's expected to be one of the MCU's most spooky projects yet, I'm cautiously optimistic about its chances of casting a spell on, well, everyone.

So, what's it about? The Marvel Phase 5 series will see Harkness create her own coven of dark magic misfits to embark on a quest down The Witches' Road, a dangerous and terrifying realm that grants wishes to anyone who successfully navigates it. Here's hoping it's good – oh, and remember, it was Agatha all aloooooong!

Agatha All Along launches with a two-episode premiere. New episodes air weekly until November 6.

The Penguin (Max)

Release date: September 19 (US); September 20 (UK and Australia)

The sequel to the 2022 smash hit The Batman is still a few years away, but this TV spin-off will aim to fill the crime thriller-shaped hole in my life and yours very soon. Colin Farrell reprises his role from the aforementioned Batman flick as Oz Cobb, one of numerous crime bosses who'll vie for a greater slice of the underworld pie following Gotham's criminal kingpin Carmine Falcone's death in The Batman. The biggest obstacle standing in Cobb's way? Carmine's menacing daughter Sofia (Cristin Milioti), who's out to prove Gotham's new criminal mastermind doesn't need to be a man.

A darker and more mature offering than its movie forebear, The Penguin looks set to be the next HBO TV Original that'll waddle its way onto our best Max shows list (NB: it'll air on Sky/Now TV in the UK, and Binge in Australia). I, for one, can't wait to see Farrell deliver another commanding acting performance that'll surely earn him more a few award nominations on next year's circuit.

The Penguin's first episode arrives on release day. New episodes air weekly until the miniseries' finale on November 10 (US) and November 11 (UK and Australia).

The Legend of Vox Machina season 3 (Prime Video)

Release date: October 3

It's been over 18 months since The Legend of Vox Machina last graced out screens, but Prime Video's R-rated animated adaptation of Critical Role's beloved Dungeons and Dragons series is ready to return with its eagerly anticipated third installment. Indeed, we'll be reunited with the titular gang's eccentric ensemble in early October, with Vox Machina still searching for a way to defeat the Chroma Conclave – aka a group of fearsome dragons who threaten Tal'Dorei's entire existence. 

I'm a big fan of Amazon's adult animation line-up, which counts Invincible, Hazbin Hotel, and Undone among its number. So, it'll come as no surprise to learn that one of the best Prime Video shows is among the programs I'm looking forward to seeing before the year ends.

The Legend of Vox Machina arrives with a three-episode premiere. New episodes will be released in three batches of three until October 24.

Heartstopper season 3 (Netflix)

Release date: October 3

Heartstopper, Netflix's hugely popular coming-of-age rom-com drama, returns for its third season in early October, and I suspect there are millions worldwide who are desperate to see what Nick, Charlie, and the rest of the gang get up to this season.

Understandably, Netflix is playing it coy over the plot of its hit show's third entry, but it has teased that Nick and Charlie will navigate even more high-school romance-based challenges. With the pair starting to look to their higher education future, too, Heartstopper season 3 could be the funniest, most dramatic, and tear-jerking installment yet. Have a tissue or 20 handy, folks.

Heartstopper season 3 will release in full on launch day.

Disclaimer (Apple TV Plus)

Release date: October 11

Based on Renee Knight's novel of the same name, this Apple TV Plus project has all the ingredients to be another acclaimed Apple series that bafflingly passes most people by. 

A terrifically talented leading lady in Cate Blanchett? Check? One of the best directors of the modern age in Alfonso Cuaron? Double check. A pulsating psychological thriller plot – one centered around Blanchett's veteran war correspondent who bizarrely finds out she's become the protagonist of a fictional story – that promises to leave audiences guessing week to week? Triple check. I'd love to see Disclaimer break into the mainstream like Presumed Innocent did earlier this year, and it has every chance of doing so with the talent attached to it.

Disclaimer will debut with a two-episode premiere. New episodes air weekly until November 15.

Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 (Netflix)

Release date: November 15

It won't be much longer until Cobra Kai closes the doors of its dojo for the final time, but at least we've got two more batches of episodes to look forward to until it does. The next lot of those will swan kick their way onto Netflix in mid-November, with Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 delivering five more entries for fans (myself included) to be captivated by.

Unsurprisingly, season 6's sophomore volume will pick up directly after its predecessor, with the Miyagi-Do team arriving in Barcelona to compete in the Sekai Taikai. Expect punches to be thrown, tears to be shed, and plenty of comical and dramatic moments to play out as the tension is ratcheted up in season 6 part 2. Make sure you enjoy what's on offer, too, because season 6 part 3 won't arrive until sometime in 2025. It's going to be a long wait, my fellow students.

Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 will launch in full on release day.

Arcane season 2 (Netflix)

Release date: sometime in November

Anyone who's frequented these parts since November 2021 will know how much I love Arcane. I'm not a League of Legends devotee – sorry, LoL fans and Riot Games, it's just a game franchise that passed me by – but I'll watch the game series' animated TV projects for as long as they're pumped out.

In the least surprising news of the year, then, you don't need me to tell you that I'm super excited for Arcane season 2. It's been a long, long, loooong time since one of the best Netflix shows made its debut, but the excruciating three-year wait for its second and final season will be over soon. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that we finally, finally get a confirmed release date at Netflix Geeked Week 2024 in mid-September. I wouldn't turn my nose up at an announcement or two about the follow-up series that'll replace it, too, Riot.

Arcane season 2's release schedule hasn't been revealed yet, but expect it to be released in three parts like season 1.

Dune: Prophecy (Max)

Release date: sometime in November

I'm going to warn you up top: this Dune TV series won't feature Timothee Chalamet's Paul Atreides. So, if you were going to tune in with the hope of seeing the A-lister, reset your expectations accordingly. That doesn't mean Dune: Prophecy won't be worth tuning into, however. The sci-fi drama, which is set 10,000 years before Atreides' journey begins in Dune, will chart the rise of the Bene Gesserit, the covert, all-female organization that sets events in motion surrounding the successors of the Padishah Emperor. 

Like Arcane, this prequel show doesn't have an official launch date yet, but it's certainly giving me Game of Thrones and Shogun vibes with its inter- and intra-familial melodrama, bloody violence, and other R-rated material. It'll join The Penguin in launching on Sky/Now TV in the UK and Binge in Australia, by the way.

Dune: Prophecy's release schedule hasn't been unveiled, but this HBO TV Original's episodes will likely launch one per week.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney Plus)

Release date: December 3 (US); December 4 (UK and Australia)

Star Wars: The Acolyte disappointed a lot of people earlier this year – and, with Andor season 2, which is my most anticipated Star Wars series, not due out until early 2025, this "Goonies in space" TV show will look to get Lucasfilm's iconic franchise back on track on the small screen. 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew stars Jude Law as an enigmatic rogue-cum-Force wielder who, after a chance encounter, is charged with helping four kids navigate their way home. Given the vastness of that infamous galaxy far, far away, it'll take the quintet a while to reach their destination, not least because of the threats that lurk in the depths of space.

Skeleton Crew is one of two new Disney Plus shows that'll make their grand entrance this festive season, so Disney will hope its primary streamer will win the holiday streaming wars. Until it's released, though, the jury is out on whether Skeleton Crew will join our best Disney Plus shows list.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew will arrive with two episodes on launch day. New entries will debut weekly.

Win or Lose (Disney Plus)

Release date: December 6

The second of Disney Plus' new kid-friendly series in December, Win or Lose, will bring Pixar's signature (and reborn) big-screen magic to TV screens worldwide for the very first time. Set in the hours and/or days before a high-school championship softball game, Win or Lose's joker in the pack lies in its approach to its lead character – or, rather, lead characters. Indeed, each of the eight-part series' installments will focus on a different softball team member, ranging from the Will Forte-voiced coach and a lovesick umpire, to its insecure players and overprotective parents.

Win or Lose's first trailer makes it look like a cross between Pixar's best high-school-set movies in Inside Out and Turning Red. If it can embody the best parts of that duo, I'm sure Pixar's first TV venture will be an *ahem* home run.

Win or Lose's release schedule is yet to be determined, so it's unclear if it'll debut in full on release day or receive a weekly episodic timetable.

Secret Level (Prime Video)

Release date: December 10

Not content with giving us one terrific anthology TV show in Netflix's Love, Death, and Robots, Tim Miller and his production company Blur Studios will present us with a new series, one inspired by some of the world's best videogame franchises, called Secret Level.

Each episode will tell standalone, non-canon stories in a variety of gaming universes, such as God of War, Pac-Man, and Unreal Tournament, that'll aim to thrill long time fans of these game series, as well as newcomers looking for something fun to stream – and, maybe, get them hooked on said game franchises, too. If Secret Level proves to be a success, I'll be very interested in seeing Blur's take on other iconic gaming franchises (as long as they can get the rights to tell stories in these worlds, that is).

Secret Level's release schedule is currently unknown, but I imagine all 15 episodes will arrive on release day.

Squid Game season 2 (Netflix)

Release date: December 26

Disney may win the fight when its comes to family-friendly content this Christmas but, let's be honest, there's only one show that the world will be tuning into in the final week of the year: Squid Game season 2. Netflix's most successful TV Original is set to dominate online discussions once more when it returns for its sophomore season, and I'm already looking ahead of streaming it with a leftover turkey dinner sandwich in one hand and an ice-cold beer in the other.

Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Squid Game protagonist Gi-hun, who's gunning for the titular games' creators after his remarkable but traumatizing victory in the hit show's first outing. Between you and me, he might not be successful in putting an end to the life-threatening gameshow, either. Indeed, with Squid Game season 3 already confirmed for a 2025 launch, I imagine Netflix will hold back Gi-hun's real victory until the series' final entry.

Squid Game season 2 is expected to launch in full on December 26.

Creature Commandos (Max)

Release date: sometime in December

2025's Superman movie is being viewed as the "true" beginning of James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Cinematic Universe (DCU), but it won't mark the franchise's official starting point. That'll come with Creature Commandos, which is technically the DCU's first project as it's set to be released on Max in December.

So, what's the adult-animated DCU Chapter One TV series about? Essentially, Creature Commandos will see a gang of superpowered, monstrous miscreants embark on a secret mission to tackle a villain more powerful than any of them. Gunn has made a habit of turning lesser-known superheroes and villains into household names, so I expect this cross between The Suicide Squad's anti-hero roster and themes, and Guardians of the Galaxy's dysfunctional found family vibes to perform admirably enough.

Creature Commandos' release schedule hasn't been revealed, but I believe all seven episodes will drop on release day. There's no word on whether it'll launch in the UK and Australia in December yet, either.

For more TV-based coverage, read our guides on the best Hulu shows, best Paramount Plus shows, and best Netflix documentaries.

A Wi-Fi extender is an easy way to boost your internet connection to a room or two, but bigger homes are better off with a full mesh system.

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The M4 iPad Pro is the best tablet that Apple has ever made and these Labor Day discounts make them more affordable than you might think.

Exclusive Reuters reporting reveals potential upcoming cost-saving measures likely to be put forward by Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger to the company’s board of directors later this month.

Citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, Intel plans to set free unnecessary businesses and revamp capital spending in order to address ongoing finance concerns.

The California chipmaker recently posted quarterly revenue of $12.8 billion, down 1% year-on-year, while simultaneously predicting similar next-quarter income of $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion.

Intel could be doing some more cost-cutting

Gelsinger expressed concern about the company’s Q2 results: “Our Q2 financial performance was disappointing, even as we hit key product and process technology milestones.”

Company CFO David Zinsner blamed gross margin headwinds from Intel’s AI PC efforts as well as “higher than typical” costs relating to non-core businesses for the poor performance.

Reuters reports that the CEO could announce plans to sell its programmable chip unit Altera.

Gelsinger’s plans may also include a pause – or termination – to Intel’s $32 billion Germany factory plans, which have already been delayed.

Once a market leader, Intel has struggled to play catchup against other established rivals in the AI race. It currently has a market cap of $94.04 billion, placing it far behind AMD ($240.44 billion market cap, $5.8 billion in revenue last quarter) and Nvidia ($2.93 trillion market cap, $30.0 billion in revenue last quarter).

The news comes around a month after the company laid off around 15,000 of its workers, accounting for some 15% of its headcount. At the time of the announcement, Gelsinger stated: “We must align our cost structure with our new operating model and fundamentally change the way we operate.”

TechRadar Pro has asked Intel to confirm the report, but the company did not immediately respond.

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Windows 11 won’t offer an option to uninstall the divisive Recall feature after all, it seems, when clues in a preview build appeared to suggest it might – at least in some regions, anyway.

Deskmodder, a German tech site, recently flagged up the option in a new preview for Windows 11 24H2, the big update due to land later this year.

This prompted Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc, who is Windows senior product manager, to contact The Verge with a statement to clarify: “We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialog in Control Panel. This will be fixed in an upcoming update.”

So, presumably the next build of 24H2 will have this option removed from the Control Panel.

Windows 11’s Recall feature is essentially an AI-powered search that takes regular screenshots of the activity on your PC, and uses them to find things, going way beyond the scope of a typical Windows search (and no, that isn’t difficult, we’d agree).

The trouble is Recall has been making serious waves and causing a whole bunch of concerns to be aired since it was first announced, to the point that Microsoft pulled plans to debut it (in preview) with Copilot+ PCs, and then yanked it from test builds of Windows 11. It is now coming back to testing, mind, in October – so ready your surfboards for more waves of controversy (no doubt).

We should also note that Recall is only for Copilot+ PCs, although down the line, it’s likely a lot more computers will have the requisite NPU (and security) in place to be classified as such a device.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: The option to remove has been removed

We found it difficult to believe Microsoft would include a choice to completely strip out Recall from Windows 11, when the software giant can simply offer an option to disable it (the scheme previously in place). Removing the entire workings of Recall from a Windows PC would mean it’s more of a hassle to turn it on, should any given user dump it, and then maybe change their mind at a later date – a niche scenario, perhaps, but still, why would Microsoft facilitate such an uninstall option?

It probably wouldn’t, but the company might have to do so in the EU, where data and privacy regulations may push back against Recall harder than in other regions. If this option is a bug, though, does that mean a choice will be present for European users somewhere else – or just that they won’t get Recall? Or might there be no difference for EU users at all? Possibly.

It has to be said that this is a bit of a strange bug, too (not that odd bugs being visited upon Windows is anything hugely new, of course). Whatever’s going on here, some folks were pleased to see the ability to strip out Recall, and now that Microsoft has clarified that this isn’t happening, they’ll probably be less than happy about the functionality even sitting in the background of their PC.

The worry for some is that the feature will eventually end up being turned on in the future – or rather that the concrete presence of Recall, embedded in Windows 11, is an indication of this being the direction Microsoft is heading in at some point, anyway.

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Eureka J20 robot vacuum two-minute review

The Eureka J20 provides the next generation of mopping technology thanks to its RollRenew mopping system. This is one of the best mopping solutions I’ve seen on any robot vacuum. It achieves superior performance by not only mounting the mop pad onto a roller but also spraying fresh water onto it as it rotates around. This helps to ensure the mop is always cleaning the floor with a clean pad. This leaves oscillating mopping solutions in its wake and seems likely to become become the go-to option for customers prepared to pay a premium for the best robot vacuum.

As well as excellent mopping capabilities, the J20 is also very capable when it comes to vacuuming. My tests with crushed digestives biscuits, flour, and oats were adequately dealt with when I increased the suction power to either Turbo or Super Strong. There were times when I needed to carry out a small follow-up sweep, but this was only on larger and more stubborn debris. All in all, the vacuuming performance of the J20 is up there with the best.

LiDAR mapping and AI obstacle detection performed incredibly well, leading to an accurate and reliable map of our house. It handled table legs and other furniture with ease, although this did add to the amount of time required to map the space. Eureka’s app is equally good, with outstanding mapping technology and customizable cleaning schedules.

(Image credit: Future)

The robot vacuum is only half the story, though. The J20 is backed up by an impressive base station that fulfils a range of duties, including charging, self-emptying, and refilling the vacuum water tank. It carries all of these out with very little fuss; all you have to concern yourself with is making sure the base station is filled up with water and the debris receptacle is emptied every so often. The station is a little on the large side, however, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for it before investing in this product.

The design of every part of the vacuum and base station is well considered and perfectly engineered. Premium materials are found throughout, helping not only to improve the user experience but also increase the longevity of the device.

There’s little not to love about the J20. This is a premium robot vacuum solution that delivers great vacuuming and mopping performance. The €1,399 price point will put a lot of people off but if you have the money to cover the investment, there aren’t many better alternatives on the market.

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: price & availability

• Launched: Summer / fall 2024 
• Price EU $1,399 / $1,399 (equivalent to £1,100 / AU$2,075)
• Available in Europe, US and Australia launches to follow, no launch date for UK

At the time of writing the Eureka J20 is available in four European countries: Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The €1,399 price tag puts it at the higher end of robot vacuum cleaners and TechRadar's premium price bracket, but that's reflected in the feature set. Robot vacuums do tend to attract discounts around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales, though, so there's a chance you might be able to avoid paying that full list price. 

In North America the J20 will be available on eureka.com with a retail price of $1,399, although during the US launch period there will be a $300 coupon, making the final price $1,099. An Australian launch is expected but there's no word on pricing, and so far there's no mention of a UK launch from Eureka.

• Value score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum specs Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: design & features

• 8,000 PA vacuum
• RollRenew mopping system
• Bagless self-emptying base station

The Eureka J20 vacuum and base station are relatively compact, especially considering the overall functionality and number of features. That doesn’t mean it’s particularly small, though. With dimensions of 423 x 462 x 452.5mm, you’ll need a fairly good amount of space to keep it out of the way. I was fortunate to have a space in my utility room that meant it wasn’t in the way of foot traffic. If you’re tight on space and have a small hallway or kitchen, you’ll need to look for a smaller unit.

Everything was safely packaged, guaranteeing nothing was harmed in transit. After unboxing everything, I plugged the base station in, placed the robot inside, and waited for it to be fully charged. The robot connects to the charging point through two metal plates, which automatically line up without any requirement for human intervention.

In the meantime, I downloaded the Eureka app, which is essential for use as well as for maximizing all the features. Connecting the robot to the app was a breeze, and my phone was able to find it with no problems at all.

While the robot is off mapping your house, the app displays all the progress in a simple and straightforward floor map. It is only after mapping the whole space that rooms can be labelled and zones specified. All in all, the app is incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate. If you’ve never owned a robot vacuum before, then controlling it from a phone will take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

(Image credit: Future)

All parts look and feel premium, helping to ensure durability when moving around the house. The reality is that at times it might have to interact with children or pets, but there are no concerns that the J20 won’t be able to withstand the test. The units are made from powder-coated dark grey plastic, helping to hide any scuffs and marks that will inevitably come their way. All parts of the robot and base station are easy to wipe clean.

The robot itself is fairly simple in design, with two buttons located on the top of the unit. One is for sending the robot back to its base station for charging, while the other starts and pauses the cleaning process. The same two buttons are also located on the base station for ease of access.

(Image credit: Future)

Underneath the robot is where all the magic happens. Sensors and brushes help to keep the robot on track as well as pick up dirt. The mop assembly is the crowning feature of the vacuum. Engineering it onto a belt means the mop pad stays cleaner for longer and that fresh water is regularly applied to the surface being cleaned. This sets it apart from a lot of traditional robot vacuums that only vibrate a mop pad across the surface.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the best things about the base station design is how easy it is to remove and insert the various tanks, including the clean water and waste water tanks. These fit seamlessly into the casing and are super easy to fill up/empty.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: performance

• Great vacuuming capabilities
• Roller mop picks up spills nicely
• Fantastic mapping technology

The biggest evolution for Eureka and for the industry as a whole is the proprietary RollRenew mopping system. This did a fantastic job of cleaning up spills, as long as you got the vacuum to work on them pretty quickly; if it was left for a while, the J20 found it harder to take care of them in the time it was gliding over them. More water would have helped but that’s not usually desired, especially on real-wood floors. The J20 performed better than the Eureka E10s, thanks to the roller mop functionality.

Moving onto vacuuming, my tests involved sprinkling a mix of crushed digestives and flour, as well as oats, onto my carpet and hard floor before seeing how the Eureka J20 performed on its Quiet, Standard, Turbo, and Super Strong suction strengths. The lower settings didn't pick up anywhere near enough debris to make them worthwhile, either on carpet or hard floors.

The Turbo and Super Strong settings were much more capable of picking up the flour and biscuits to a satisfactory standard, although you’ll have to be prepared to put up with nearly 70dB of noise while it’s happening.

(Image credit: Future)

After testing the core elements of vacuuming and mopping, I turned my attention to the amount of noise the device was making. This is important because the quieter the vacuum, the more likely users are going to be able to utilize it at the end of each day without the fear of interrupting a quiet night in.

The audio volume of the J20 increases from 60dB on its lowest suction to 70dB on its highest. This is comparable with Eureka’s other models, such as the E10s, which had an almost identical audio range. The audio levels are not particularly comfortable, especially if you’re trying to relax at the same time. I prefer to put the robot to work either while I’m out during the day or when I’m doing other jobs.

After performing a clean, the J20 will return to its base station and empty its contents. The advertised capacity of the base station receptacle is 75 days, a length of time that is obviously dependent upon your home and how much dirt needs cleaning. In reality, it will need emptying as regularly as any standard upright vacuum would.

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka has always done a fantastic job of integrating state-of-the-art mapping and navigation technology into its robot vacuums. The same is true for its J20 model. Despite taking a while to map out our home and making a number of wrong turns in the process, the resulting map was incredibly accurate. Our rooms have a lot of table legs, which I thought would confuse the robot, but instead it gradually and methodically worked its way around.

The overall performance of the J20 among the best I have ever seen. It effectively picks up dirt, mops up spills, and requires very little human intervention to finish cleaning tasks.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: app

• Intuitive to use
• Specific room and zone mapping
• Ability to schedule cleans

Eureka has managed to create an app that is not only remarkably easy to use but also offers a lot of functionality. Having used the app with the Eureka E10s, I continued to be impressed by all that the app offers.

Downloading and installing the app was an absolute breeze. After connecting the vacuum, I proceeded to carry out an initial mapping of the space. The vacuum and app linked seamlessly to provide a usable scan of the house, including a map of scanned rooms. Each of these can be labelled for easier navigation and customization as well as the ability to set no-go or no-mop zones, perfect for carpeted floors.

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka provides a number of different ways to get your space cleaned. The first is to select specific rooms on the map and hit the clean button. This is ideal if you know you have mess in a set number of rooms but don’t want to carry out a full clean. Alternatively, zones can be specified, which is perfect for cleaning those high-use areas.

By far the easiest and most hassle-free option is to set up scheduled cleans and let the vacuum just crack on with doing what it does best. The app lets you specify a time, a repeat schedule, and a number of cleaning cycles. Each scheduled clean can also include the rooms that you want cleaned.

I found all of these features to be incredibly easy to use but I would understand if someone less tech-savvy needed a little bit of help getting everything set up. There were also occasions when troubleshooting was required and if you weren’t able to work through these problems yourself, then I could see how it could become a little frustrating.

• App score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: battery life

• Battery lasts up to three hours
• Takes around three to four hours to recharge

The 6,400mAh battery is advertised as lasting 180 minutes. This running time is only remotely achievable when used with the lowest level of suction power. You can expect this to reduce by as much as half when using the highest power setting.

Given the fact that this level of suction is required almost all the time, you’ll want to weigh up whether you’re happy with this battery performance. Measuring your space is a good start. I found the robot able to cover in the region of 750-850 square feet per charge.

Recharging the robot from empty takes around three to four hours, which is more than easily achieved between cleans. The robot is also intelligent enough to know when it needs a boost and will return to the base station accordingly.

• Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Eureka J20 robot vacuum? Buy it if...

You want a roller mop

The selling-point of the Eureka J20 is the mop that is mounted to a roller. This helps to ensure that fresh water is applied to each new stain, thereby improving the overall performance of the mop.

You want a self-emptying base

The J20 robot vacuum transfers all of its debris into the base station every time it returns. This reduces the number of times the main dustbin needs to be emptied.

You love great design

The J20 really looks the part. Every individual element has been expertly designed and crafted to provide a beautiful looking unit.

Don't buy it if...

You are on a budget

At €1,399, the Eureka J20 is far from affordable for most people. The benefit of paying this much money is that you’ll get to enjoy a range of premium features that are not available on cheaper alternatives.

You need a long battery life

The J20 provides a reasonable battery life but at the highest suction power, the battery does begin to struggle a little. If you have a particularly large home and want to complete it in one charge, you might run into some problems.

You want a tried and tested model

The J20 is a relatively new entry into the world of robot vacuums and despite the great features, it hasn’t built up a sufficient track record to make it one of the greats.

How I tested the Eureka J20 robot vacuum

• Tested with several full cleans of my home
• Used all vacuum and mopping settings
• All floor types, including carpet and hardwood

My 600-foot home was perfect for testing the Eureka J20. The mix of carpets, hardwood floors, and a low-pile rug meant I could test all the features of this impressive robot vacuum. After setting it up and mapping the space, I endeavored to let the robot get on with its cleaning, independent of my involvement. There’s no use having a robot vacuum if you’re always going to have to intervene.

More specifically, I included a fine dust and larger debris test to check its vacuuming capabilities. The former was made up of crushed digestives and flour, with the latter consisting of oats. These helped me see how well the vacuum was able to handle different types of mess.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: July 2024

Stock of Apple’s faux-leather FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands is at an “all-time low”, suggesting that the controversial product line might be discontinued just a year after launching.

That’s according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who says low stock of FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands means that Apple is either planning to discontinue the accessories or refresh the lineup with new colors and support for new devices. 

The next major Apple event, titled ‘It’s Glowtime’, is scheduled to take place on September 9, and we expect to hear news of the iPhone 16 family, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Intelligence at the Cupertino-set showcase. If Apple is keeping FineWoven around, the company is likely preparing for a case refresh alongside these new hardware products.

Apple launched its line of FineWoven iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and AirTag holders alongside the iPhone 15 series in September 2023.

The Pacific Blue FineWoven case on an iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future)

FineWoven was introduced to replace leather in Apple’s accessories as part of the company’s mission to make every product carbon-neutral by 2030. The material is made up of 68% “post-consumer recycled content” according to Apple, but the company has not released details on what, exactly, the stuff is made of.

However, customer reaction to FineWoven has been generally poor since Apple began using the fabric for accessories just one year ago.

In our review of the FineWoven iPhone 15 Pro case, we called the product “a disaster”, while The Verge called FineWoven “categorically terrible” and CNET said it “can’t applaud” the cases while respecting Apple’s move away from leather.

Apple closing the upcycled curtains on FineWoven would be an unprecedented move, given that the company typically maintains features and product lines for several years, even in the face of bad reviews.

The unreliable Butterfly Keyboard introduced to MacBooks in 2015 remains one of the most notorious examples, with Apple even launching a repair scheme before finally ditching the keyboard with the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Regarding FineWoven, we’ve only heard rumors at this point, and it’ll be up to Apple to decide whether FineWoven will be a rare exception to the rule. 

Gurman adds that stock shortages are also being noted for the third-generation iPhone SE, the iPad mini, AirPods, and multiple Apple Watch models, suggesting updates for these products could be on the way, too. 

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