The iPhone 17 Pro probably won’t land until September 2025, but this being a high-profile handset we’re already hearing leaks and rumors about it – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series.

The Pro will likely slot in just below the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and just above the iPhone 17 and perhaps the rumored iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim.

And while we don’t know loads about it yet, early rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new button, new cameras, and a new chipset, making this a potentially major and exciting upgrade. Below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 17 Pro so far.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next smaller Pro iPhone
• When is it out? Probably September 2025
• How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

Expect it in September

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Likely to land in September of 2025
• Will probably cost at least $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

We haven’t heard any iPhone 17 Pro release date leaks yet, but based on Apple’s usual patterns we can say that it will probably be announced in the first or second week of September.

More specifically, it will probably be announced on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of that week. Apple more often goes for the second week of September, leaving the most likely announcement dates as September 8, September 9, or September 10.

Pre-orders then typically open on the Friday of the announcement week, which would mean September 12, and the iPhone 17 Pro will most likely ship the following Friday, which would be September 19.

But it’s possible the various stages of the launch will happen a week earlier, or that Apple will break with its usual patterns.

There aren’t yet any iPhone 17 Pro price leaks either, but the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,849, so you can expect to pay at least that much for the next model.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far there aren't any release date or price leaks, but based on past form we're almost certain that the iPhone 17 Pro will be announced in September.

A new button and a new color

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Might include a new button
• Expect the same screen size but possibly upgrades to the tech
• A Teal Titanium shade is possible

The biggest iPhone 17 Pro design leak we’ve heard so far is that the volume buttons and the Action button might all be replaced by a single new key that can do the job of all those things. Exactly how it would do all those things is uncertain, but it may well have a similar design to the Camera Control button, meaning it can register different strength presses as well as swipes, and respond in different ways to each.

The iPhone 17 Pro will probably also be available in at least one new shade, with one leak suggesting Apple is considering using one of the three colors pictured below. From left to right these are Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium, and the source says Teal Titanium is the most likely to get used.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

We’ve also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro might use a “more complex” aluminum design, rather than the titanium of its predecessor.

As for the screen, the iPhone 17 Pro might have a 6.3-inch display, just like the iPhone 16 Pro, but it could be more anti-reflective than the current display, as well as being more scratch resistant.

Can you trust these rumors?

We fully expect the iPhone 17 Pro to have a 6.3-inch screen, since Apple only recently upped the display size with the iPhone 16 Pro. The other design and display leaks so far are worth taking with a pinch of salt though, as not many sources have weighed in.

Two upgraded cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• A 48MP telephoto upgrade is likely
• It could also have a new 24MP front-facing camera

The main camera upgrade coming to the iPhone 17 Pro could be a 48MP telephoto camera, up from 12MP on the iPhone 16 Pro. This 48MP telephoto camera has been mentioned in several iPhone 17 Pro camera leaks, so this may well happen. However, leaks suggest it will still offer the same level of zoom – namely 5x optical zoom.

The other significant camera upgrade we could see is a 24MP front-facing camera, up from 12MP on the current model.

As for the main and ultra-wide cameras, leaks so far suggest they’ll stick at 48MP like on the current model.

And while less likely there’s also talk that the iPhone 17 Pro could have a mechanical aperture, meaning you’d be able to change the aperture and therefore also the depth of field.

Can you trust these rumors? 

So many sources have talked about a 48MP telephoto camera that this upgrade seems likely. We haven't heard as much about the other cameras though, including the rumored 24MP selfie snapper upgrade, so we're less sure of those specs. We also wouldn't count on the phone having a mechanical aperture, as that seems a bit niche for how much work it might involve.

The most powerful iPhone chipset yet

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• A top-end A19 Pro chipset
• 8GB of RAM again

One thing we can be very confident about is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, one that will most likely be called the A19 Pro.

Not only is an A19 Pro chipset an obvious upgrade, but it has also been mentioned by multiple sources.

Beyond that, there’s a chance that the iPhone 17 Pro will get 12GB of RAM, which would be an increase on the 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro. However most current leaks suggest that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get this upgrade.

And as for the battery, Apple is reportedly considering using a thinner and lighter motherboard, which could free up additional space for a larger battery than in the current model.

Can you trust these rumors? 

One of the few things we're almost certain of is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, since that's a standard yearly upgrade for Apple's phones. We hope it will also get a RAM upgrade, but so far it looks more likely to stick at 8GB.

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• Seamless (A/B) updates tipped for the Galaxy S25
• Streamlines the process of updating a device
• First introduced by Google back in 2016

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We're getting closer to the expected January launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25, and the latest rumor around this phone series suggests it'll be getting an upgrade in terms of how updates are applied at the most fundamental level.

As per tipster @chunvn8888 (via SamMobile), the Galaxy S25 phones will get A/B updates, also known as seamless updates. These updates cover new Android versions as well as more minor security patches and fixes.

The A/B name refers to the way the next software update (B) is downloaded and set up on a separate storage partition while the current software (A) carries on running. Most of the heavy lifting is done behind the scenes while you carry on using your phone.

A reboot is still required to apply the update, but the restart happens more quickly – a lot of the installation work is already done, so you don't have to spend as much time watching a progress bar move across the screen.

Getting with the program

S25 series support A/B updateNovember 1, 2024

Google introduced the option of A/B updates for Android all the way back in 2016, so it's taken some time for Samsung to get around to introducing it on the Galaxy series – if the prediction turns out to be accurate.

However, the Galaxy S25 wouldn't be the first Samsung phone to get this functionality: it's also available on the Samsung Galaxy A55 that launched earlier this year. It would be the first time it had shown up on a flagship Samsung phone, however.

As SamMobile points out, A/B support needs to be built in at the hardware level – it's not something that can be added to a handset at a later date. Either a phone has A/B capabilities or it doesn't, for the lifespan of the device.

We should see three Galaxy S25 phones show up in January, if Samsung copies its 2024 launch schedule in 2025. There have been plenty of leaks already, covering everything from the predicted color options to key internal specs.

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Nvidia has rebranded its flagship Blackwell Ultra products, in what appears to be a strategic shift at the chipmaker aimed at promoting the B300 and GB300 lines, both of which leverage CoWoS-L technology.

The move, first reported by TrendForce, will see the B200 Ultra series now be known as the B300, while the GB200 Ultra is known as the GB300.

The B300 series from Nvidia is expected to launch any time between the second and third quarters of 2025, with the B200 and GB200 series in particular set to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Nvidia’s shift has broader long-term implications

TrendForce noted Nvidia is in the process of refining chip segmentation across its Blackwell series in a bid to meet growing performance demands from CSPs, improve supply chain flexibility, and meet cost-performance needs among server OEMs.

The B300A series, for example, is aimed primarily at OEMS. Production of this series is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2025 as shipments of the H200 series begin winding down.

Notably, TrendForce said Nvidia had originally planned to launch the B200A series to specifically cater to server OEMs. The chipmaker later shifted to the B300A series during the design process, however, which the market research firm suggested indicated a “weaker demand for downgraded GPUs than anticipated”.

This shift in product strategy from Nvidia could have long-term implications, with TrendForce suggesting the move “reveals a clear pivot toward AI models that promise greater revenue in 2025”.

“The company is making significant investments in improving NVL rack solutions, assisting server system providers with performance optimization and liquid cooling for NVL72 systems,” analysis from TrendForce noted.

“Companies like AWS and Meta are being urged to transition from NVL36 to NVL72.”

Notably, shipment trends point toward Nvidia’s high-end GPU offerings surging in the year ahead, with overall shipment share anticipated to hit around 50% in 2024.

This, TrendForce said, marks a sizable 20% increase compared to the year prior - and it’s expected to continue. The Blackwell platform is projected to drive this further to a share of around 65% in 2025.

Nvidia driving CoWoS demand

In the year ahead, Nvidia is expected to play a “crucial role” in driving demand for CoWoS technology, according to TrendForce.

With the Blackwell series beginning to gain widespread enterprise appeal, CoWoS demand is forecast to increase by around 10% year-on-year.

“In light of recent changes, NVIDIA is likely to concentrate on supplying B300 and GB300 products to major North American CSPs—both leveraging CoWoS-L technology,” TrendForce said.

Running parallel to this, HBM procurement is also anticipated to rise, TrendForce found. Current projections for the year ahead suggest the chip maker will account for more than 70% of the global HBM market.

This once again marks an increase of around 10% annually. A key factor here is that all models across the B300 series will feature HBM3e 12hi.

With production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, this will drive demand, TrendForce said. Suppliers could be left waiting, however.

This marks the first mass production of a 12hi stack product by Nvidia, analysts noted, therefore the company could take at least two quarters to “refine processes and stabilize production yields”.

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Cyfirma Research recently discovered a serious security vulnerability affecting users of iTunes on Windows systems.

This local privilege escalation vulnerability, classified as CVE-2024-44193, allows attackers with limited access to elevate their privileges, potentially compromising entire systems.

The vulnerability, present in iTunes for Windows version 12.13.2.3 and earlier, poses a critical threat to the security of systems, making timely updates and patching essential.

Urgent iTunes update addresses this escalation risk

The core issue behind CVE-2024-44193 lies in improper permission management, specifically related to the AppleMobileDeviceService.exe.

Attackers can exploit the CVE-2024-44193 vulnerability by manipulating the files within the C:\ProgramData\Apple\Lockdown directory. With inadequate permission settings, even low-privileged users can write arbitrary files to this directory, enabling attackers to create opportunities for privilege escalation.

This vulnerability is not difficult to trigger, and thus makes its exploitation particularly concerning, as attackers can use various tools, such as NTFS junctions and opportunistic locks, to craft sophisticated exploit chains resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

The exploitation of CVE-2024-44193 follows a structured sequence of steps, allowing attackers to manipulate the AppleMobileDeviceService.exe and gain elevated privileges. First, attackers create arbitrary files within the Lockdown directory, leveraging tools like Oplock to halt processes at key moments. They can then exploit NTFS junctions, which redirect file deletions to critical system areas.

These actions culminate in the deletion of essential system files, giving the attacker administrative access. The ease of exploitation, combined with the widespread use of iTunes, particularly in enterprise environments, increases the vulnerability's risk profile. Organizations are urged to update iTunes to version 12.13.3 or later to mitigate the risk.

The impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it grants attackers administrative-level access to the targeted system. With SYSTEM-level privileges, attackers can manipulate system files, install malware, access sensitive data, and even disrupt services. This makes CVE-2024-44193 a critical risk for organizations, particularly those with large numbers of unmanaged or outdated systems running vulnerable versions of iTunes.

At the moment, there is no confirmed evidence of this vulnerability being actively exploited in the wild and there is also no active discussion of this vulnerability in underground forums. However, its potential for widespread use remains high due to the low complexity of the attack.

CVE-2024-44193 affects iTunes for Windows globally, impacting a variety of industries that rely on Windows-based systems. Media and entertainment, education, government, and corporate environments are particularly vulnerable due to the widespread use of iTunes. Additionally, organizations handling sensitive data or operating in high-risk environments may face increased exposure to attacks.

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• Apple has identified an iPhone 14 Plus issue
• It's the first iPhone service program since 2021
• You can check your eligibility online

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While we gave it plenty of praise in our iPhone 14 Plus review, the iPhone 14 Plus is apparently susceptible to a certain rear camera flaw, Apple has admitted – and if it's affecting you, you can get your handset repaired free of charge.

It's been three years since we had an iPhone service program (where Apple admits an issue and will sort it out for you), but as 9to5Mac has spotted, there's now officially one for a "rear camera issue" on the iPhone 14 Plus – which Apple still sells online.

The good news is this is only going to apply to a "very small percentage" of iPhone 14 Plus models, according to Apple. Specifically, the problem is having no preview shown on screen when you're using the rear camera on the handset.

iPhone 14 Plus handsets manufactured between April 10, 2023 and April 28, 2024 are the ones that may have the glitch: Apple has provided a serial number checker so you can quickly see whether or not your iPhone is included.

What happens next

The problem is with the rear camera on the iPhone 14 Plus (Image credit: Future)

If you do have an iPhone 14 Plus that's flagged up as problematic via the serial number checker, you can take it into any Apple Store or any Apple Authorized Service Provider to get your phone repaired, free of charge.

Alternatively, you can contact Apple about sending your phone in for repair through the post. Follow this link to find the relevant page on the Apple Support website, which gives you options for scheduling an in-store repair or sending off your handset.

If Apple determines your iPhone 14 Plus is one of the devices affected, and you've already paid to have the issue fixed, you can get a refund (follow this link for that). You can make a claim up to three years after the first purchase of the iPhone.

There are some steps to follow if you're sending your iPhone in to be repaired, whether for this or any other issue. You need to make sure everything is backed up, and turn off the Find My service, as well as removing active cards in Apple Wallet.

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This week we announced the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 winners, Apple launched a slew of M4 Macs, and Marvel outlined its MCU TV line-up (and boy are we excited).

To catch up on all this and more we've rounded up the top seven tech news stories from the week below, with links to the original articles if you want to find out more.

When you're done catching up why not browse our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream weekend (November 1)?

7. TechRadar Choice Awards 2024

(Image credit: Future)

The TechRadar Choice awards returned for 2024, and we've crowned our winners across over 100 categories.

Taking the Reader's Choice award (which is 100% chosen by our readers) was the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the Samsung S95D being crowned the best OLED TV, the Apple Watch Series 10 being declared best smart watch, Nvidia winning computing brand of the year, and Balatro winning game of the year.

• Check out the full list of TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 winners

6. TechRadar's Halloween week spooked us

(Image credit: Toho Co / Prime Video)

Halloween fell on a Thursday this year, meaning you’d be forgiven for throwing a party at the beginning of November. We’re encouraging it, in fact, thanks to TechRadar’s Halloween Week. Experts from all across the site have contributed streaming recommendations, recipes, gaming thoughts, AI tips and more, to help you enjoy the spookiest time of year to the fullest.

Don’t worry if you’re not a huge horror fan, because there’s plenty of animation, comedies, or general seasonal content if you’d rather have a more relaxed celebration. Halloween is for everyone and so is our guide, so make sure you check that out over the weekend.

• Read more: Welcome to TechRadar’s Halloween Week 2024

5. Apple Intelligence finally landed with iOS 18.1

(Image credit: Apple)

With iOS 18.1 we finally got our hands on the first wave of Apple Intelligence features including Writing Tools for proofreading and rewriting, Smart Replies to reply to messages quickly, Notification Summaries, Cleaning Photos, and a redesign of Siri. You'll also get these experiences on an iPad or Mac courtesy of iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, which also began rolling out this week.

Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence tools such as Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT-integration for Siri, and the iPhone 16’s Visual Intelligence won’t arrive until iOS 18.2 later this year.

To use Apple Intelligence on iPhone, you need an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, or 16 Pro Max, and make sure your device is set to US English. On a Mac, you'll need an M-Series chip and on iPad you'll need either the A17 Pro, M1, M2, or M4 chips to get Apple Intelligence (with the same language restriction as iPhone).

• Read more: Apple Intelligence available now in iOS 18.1 – here’s what’s new

4. The Sonos Arc Ultra arrived – and came early for some people

(Image credit: Sonos )

Sonos’ latest high-end soundbar is the Sonos Arc Ultra, and it’s now officially on-sale – but some lucky buyers received it before the street date, and took to the internet to share their experience. And it’s good news for Sonos hopefuls, with one early tester who upgraded from the Arc to Arc Ultra saying “I hoped that the Ultra [would] be better than the Arc but it is significantly better in every regard.”

The star is the bass, driven by an innovative new Sound Motion speaker – it’s way beyond what the previous model is capable of, and actually is beyond what almost any other sub-less soundbar can do. We’re in the middle of testing the Arc Ultra for our review, and can say this part is a big for Sonos, for sure.

People don’t seem to be having any problems with setting it up in the Sonos app either, which is a good sign given what a tough few months the company’s had when it comes to software.

• Read more: Some people got Sonos Arc Ultra early, here's what they think

3. Marvel teased a massive 2025 for the MCU

Every week is a busy week for Marvel, but the past seven days have been particularly packed for the comic book giant – and not just because Agatha All Along’s two-part finale spooked us all on Disney Plus (read more about it in our Agatha All Along ending explained article).

Indeed, whether it was the official announcement that Spider-Man 4 is not only in development, but also has a confirmed release date, or Marvel revealing its full TV line-up for late 2024 and beyond, the Disney subsidiary has got plenty more content to show us over the next 14 months. So much for releasing fewer movies and shows post-Infinity Saga, eh, Marvel?

• Read more: Marvel reveals the first footage for its 2025 TV line-up

2. Apple dropped a trio of M4 Macs

(Image credit: Apple)

It’s been a bumper week for Apple, with a slew of new M4 Mac product reveals that kicked off with the new M4 iMac on Monday. The new iMac has an updated processor, new color options, and a lower starting price than the M3 version – all good things.

The second (and perhaps best) reveal was the new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro – a powerhouse computer crammed into an absolutely tiny five-by-five-inch chassis. The redesign didn’t just make the Mac mini smaller and faster, it also brought audio and USB-C ports to the front of the chassis, a much-needed addition.

We also saw new versions of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, plus updated Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad peripherals for Mac users. Finally, 16GB is now the standard base configuration for all Mac products – thank heavens – which retroactively includes the M2 and M3 MacBook Air.

• Read more: Apple launches new iMac with M4 chips

1. ChatGPT search went live

(Image credit: OpenAI)

OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot has taken the world by storm, introducing millions of people to AI for the first time, but now it’s striking out beyond its chatbot origins and competing directly with Google in search.

Searching the web in ChatGPT isn’t like using Google. Instead of pages of web links in response to a query, you get a nicely considered series of AI text responses, with the option to click through to a web page if you like.

ChatGPT search is great for asking questions, but it can also deliver answers to local searches like “What is the best pizza restaurant near me?“, and can show results on a map. From our initial testing it looks like ChatGPT search is a very efficient way to search the web.

• Read more: ChatGPT search is now live

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I am more excited about the Samsung Galaxy Ring than any other recent new product from a big tech company. Surpassing my interest in the Apple Vision Pro as a product that people will actually find a purpose for, the Galaxy Ring has found a place in my daily routine for one very simple reason: I don’t like wearing a watch all the time.

Samsung is onto something here with a device that fits into its health and wearables ecosystem in a very interesting way. Down to the core, the Galaxy Ring takes the health smarts of the company’s great range of smartwatches and crams them into a tiny ring. There are some health features the Ring can’t provide that the Galaxy Watch can, but it covers the bases; heart rate, body temperature monitoring, sleep and steps. For me, the best feature is its sleep tracking, particularly because it’s much more comfortable to have a ring on my finger in bed instead of a smart watch.

But it’s not a complete device and though it matches the feature set of the Oura Ring 4, it is very distinctively first generation. Though I’m enjoying my time with it (and it’s successfully made me care about my health and fitness) and I agree with TechRadar’s Samsung Galaxy Ring review, we’re talking about what is quite an expensive device without much practical functionality. It’s tempting to say that the reason for its high price and low feature set is because it’s niche by design, but I think there are changes that could be introduced to make it more palatable and ultimately a more attractive device altogether.

Let’s put it down to three points.

Why does it look like this?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Smart devices, inclusive of phones, are largely fashion statements in the right contexts. Of course, some people are more interested in good functionality, but you can’t discount the style points and aesthetics of any product you have to wear. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is, pointedly, a fashionable piece of technology, much more so than any other Samsung device preceding it… So why does it look so basic?

I’m not disputing the style of the ring; the thick shape is necessary for its smart features, and the concave design is a smart way of avoiding scratches, but the black and silver colorways look like plastic. The ring itself is made of titanium and coated in a similar paint to that of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (with comfortable and partially transparent plastics on the inside), but while the Ultra looks especially premium with its epic colors, the Galaxy Ring looks almost cheap in Titanium Black and Titanium Silver.

The Titanium Gold colorway looks fine; it has a lovely polish to it. The Silver and Black look almost like pieces of a Hasbro toy lightsaber. It’s likely a non-issue for many, but we’re talking about a new product that takes strides into the jewelry space. It needs to look the part.

It wasn’t going to take long before we got into this, but the Oura Ring 4, the closest competitor to the Galaxy Ring, looks especially premium. Silver, Black, Gold and Rose Gold colorways are available at the checkout, along with a matte black color dubbed Stealth and a raw-looking Brushed Silver color. The variety is greater, albeit with some options priced higher than others, and they’ve aced the assignment; the Oura Ring 4 looks premium. It looks like jewelry.

Why is it priced like that?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

This criticism applies equally to the Oura Ring 4, and admittedly it goes in tandem with my third criticism that we’ll get into below, but it can’t be skipped over. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a $399 / £399 / AU$699 device, which positions it on par with (or slightly above) the Galaxy Watch 7 44mm LTE in most markets, above cheaper Watch options, and above the lowest price Oura Ring 4 ($349 / £349 / not available in AU).

Samsung justifies the higher price over this competitor by not having a subscription service, while Oura charges its customers a $5.99 per month bill for all features and health insights in its app (charged in USD in all regions irrespective of local currency), but we can head these pricing strategies off at the pass; the unique form factor and intent of these smart rings allow them to charge a significant amount. Development costs would have also been considerable, and ultimately there’s just not strong competition in this tiny market. If Apple, OnePlus, Oppo and Google got in at the same time, things would likely be a bit different.

For a dedicated user obsessed with health tracking, this device can be justified, but at this price, against accessories like earbuds and smart watches, it’s too niche for a casual user to be this expensive. Perhaps if, as written above, it was somewhat more attractive or had the ability to add engravings or markings it’d be a different story.

Why doesn’t it do much?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

When I’m talking to people about the Samsung Galaxy Ring, they’re obviously immediately interested in what it actually does – and perhaps unsurprisingly, as much as I can gas the Galaxy Ring up, the takeaway they’re typically left with is “not much”.

Make no mistake, Samsung’s health tracking tech is brilliant and it’s had a positive impact on the way I see my own wellbeing; step tracking, sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring are all things the Galaxy Ring is capable of. I have no trouble recommending it as a device that can positively impact your health, but consumers will also likely want to consider the competition.

The Oura Ring 4 has all the same features and health trackers, minus the deep integration with Samsung's Health suite, though it is compatible with iOS – the Galaxy Ring only works with Android devices.

But as far as a casual user goes when it comes to big tech products, health features are expected in tandem with… Normal features.

The Galaxy Ring does have gestures, which are awesome – pinch your thumb and your ring finger, and you’ll stop alarms or trigger the camera to take a shot. At the time of writing, those are the only two gesture options. No answering calls, media controls or integration with any specific apps, just those two things. It doesn’t help that gestures are exclusive to Galaxy smartphone users, and were also a celebrated feature of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra which launched at the same time as the Galaxy Ring, making it even more of a tough sell for watch owners.

And that’s kind of it! Before the Galaxy Ring launched I joked about being able to use different finger gestures to control my home smart lighting like waving a magic finger, expecting the feature set to be somewhat more fleshed out, but there’s not much going on here. I’m not sure why, but I’ve also picked up an extremely strange habit of checking my ring for the time as if it were a watch – there’s no clock on it, but perhaps a digital readout would be helpful for some. Other features a future iteration could sport include NFC for payments, automatic phone unlocking based on proximity, capacitive buttons for quick functions, and hell, how about an RGB light strip (though perhaps that last one we’ll leave to ASUS with its ROG range).

But this grates so heavily against my other two points; if you cram any more features into this gadget, you risk making it thicker and much less attractive. Any more neat tricks, and you invite price bumps.

So can we hit the right balance?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

I’ve been wearing the Samsung Galaxy Ring every day since I first received it and it’s really complementing my suite of Samsung devices. At the same time, I just wish it did a little more. Samsung knocked it out of the park all throughout 2024 with its newly released gadgets and the Galaxy Ring is definitely the most exciting, but when the Watch already does so many of the same things, why would even a health-minded Samsung user pick it up?

It’s a situation that no doubt many companies encounter when entering a new product category. The Apple Vision Pro for instance received a significant amount of criticism for its limited VR app support, and if the last year of crummy AI hardware has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes a new product isn’t any better than just having an app.

But Samsung’s on the right track with the Galaxy Ring. I’m very much looking forward to what the company has next in store with this device.

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A popular online animation tool was abused to trick people into handing over access to their cryptocurrency wallets, with at least one individual losing close to $700,000.

LottieFiles is a platform that provides tools and a library for creating, editing, and sharing lightweight, scalable animations in the Lottie format. These animations, together with the plugin LottiePlayer, are commonly used in websites and mobile applications with 94,000 weekly downloads and has been downloaded more than 4 million times since its launch.

Recently, an unnamed threat actor somehow obtained a session cookie from one of the developers of LottieFiles, and used that access to push three new versions of LottiePlayer (2.0.5, 2.0.6, and 2.0.7) to npmjs. Websites that use LottiePlayer and were configured to always use the latest version have had the malicious versions downloaded automatically.

New version released

These new versions prompted website visitors to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, which basically gives the site access to the stored funds. We don’t know how many people fell for the trick and connected their wallets, but we do know that at least one person did, and it cost them 10 BTC, which is $696,960 at press time. This information came from Scam Sniffer, a Web3 anti-scam platform.

"On October 30th ~6:20 PM UTC – LottieFiles were notified that our popular open source npm package for the web player @lottiefiles/lottie-player had unauthorized new versions pushed with malicious code," the project’s co-founder and CTO, Nattu Adnan, wrote on GitHub. "This does not impact our dotlottie player and/or SaaS services. Our incident response plans were activated as a result. We apologize for this inconvenience and are committed to ensuring safety and security of our users, customers, their end-users, developers, and our employees."

The attacker was quickly ousted, and a new version - 2.0.8, pushed live. This is a copy of the last safe version, which was 2.0.4.

"We have confirmed that our other open source libraries, open source code, GitHub repositories, and our SaaS were not affected."

Via The Register

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Latest Fortnite Remix live event teaser

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Teasers for the upcoming Fortnite Remix live event have started to come out, with the latest from Epic Games being an image of a butterfly. This butterfly resembles a rift portal, suggesting that players will be warping around the event, likely set to music. We'll have to wait and see how things play out, but it looks like we're in for a portal-hopping adventure.

A Fortnite Remix live event will lead into the next season, which is going to be a throwback to Chapter 2. This live event has been revealed as Fortnite Remix: The Prelude, and it'll give players the chance to come together to witness what's set to be a musical-themed blockbuster showing.

Now that we know that the next Season of Fortnite is another throwback in the vein of Fortnite OG, we can start looking ahead to the next month of action. Epic Games has been keeping fairly quiet on the full details regarding Fortnite Remix, however, we do know that things will start to ramp up later today (November 1).

Here's everything we know about the next Fortnite live event so far, including all of the confirmed details on Fortnite Remix: The Prelude. We'll break down the release date in your time zone, and update with new info as it drops.

Fortnite Remix live event start time for your timezone

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Remix: The Prelude goes live on November 1 at 6:30PM ET / 3:30PM PT / 10:30PM GMT. You'll be able to load into the game at this point, though we don't yet know exactly what we'll be doing. Stay tuned for updates!

Fortnite Remix: The Prelude live event - what to expect

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games hasn't revealed any details on Fortnite Remix: The Prelude just yet, other than the time it'll be going live. A Tweet from the Fortnite account does provide a slight clue, however, telling players that they will want to have their "volume up".

The countdown begins! Join us for Remix: The Prelude in-game on November 1. When the timer hits zero, be there with the volume UP. pic.twitter.com/nah5aXPedzOctober 29, 2024

Given the Remix theming of Fortnite Chapter 2, it's likely that the upcoming live event will feature a musical element front and center. This could mean a performance of a remixed Chapter 2 track, a collaborative Fortnite Festival gameplay style, or something else entirely. We'll have to wait and see. For now, you can visit Restored Reels to see the countdown screen. It's likely that this is where the event will start.

(Image credit: Epic Games)

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Security experts have recently uncovered a Windows Themes spoofing zero-day vulnerability that allows threat actors to steal NTLM credentials.

Earlier in 2024, Microsoft discovered, and patched, CVE-2024-21320 - a similar vulnerability with a 6.5 severity score (medium). The patch did not address the issue entirely, and could be bypassed, resulting in the discovery of CVE-2024-38030. Microsoft released the fix for this hole in July 2024.

Now, security researchers from Acros Security revealed how, as they were tinkering with the patch for CVE-2024-21320, they found “an additional instance of the very same problem that was still present on all fully updated Windows versions, up to currently the latest Windows 11 24H2.”

Micropatch available

NTLM (NT LAN Manager) is a suite of security protocols used for authentication, integrity, and confidentiality in Windows networks. It’s an older protocol, primarily replaced by Kerberos in modern systems, but it is still supported for backward compatibility.

The Register reached out to Microsoft regarding this discovery, and was told the OS maker was looking into it: "We're aware of this report and will take action as needed to help keep customers protected," a Microsoft spokesperson told the publication.

In the meantime, 0patch has developed a micropatch that fixes the issue, so those of you who are worried about the bug and don’t want to wait for Microsoft, can install this one in the meantime.

"Exploitation of this zero-day is identical to the previous ones previously reported by Akamai," Acros said.

The vulnerability can be exploited rather easily, although it does require some user interaction, the researchers explained. "The user must either copy the theme file (e.g., from an email message or chat) to a folder or desktop on their computer, or visit a malicious web site that automatically downloads the file to their Downloads folder. It's not entirely without user interaction,” they told the publication.

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With paperless options slowly becoming everyone's new favorite, you might think that printing has become obsolete. But the truth is, whether you're a busy professional, a student, or a home user, having the best printer can make a world of difference in your daily life. From printing important documents to creating studio-quality photos, the right printer can be a huge productivity boost.

But with so many options available, how do you choose? Inkjet, laser, LED - each technology has its own strengths and weaknesses. Do you need speed or quality? Are you printing mostly text or photos? And what about those running costs that can sneak up on you?

In this guide, we'll dive deep into the world of printing technologies. We'll explore how each type works, their pros and cons, and help you figure out which one is the perfect fit for your needs. By the end, you'll be equipped with all the knowledge you need to make the right choice for your ideal printing station.

Also check out our complete list of the best all-in-one printers available.

What is an Inkjet Printer?

Inkjet printers are probably what most of us think of when we picture a home printer. These versatile machines are popular for good reason — they're affordable, compact, and capable of producing high-quality color prints.

The technology behind inkjet printers is fascinating in its simplicity. These printers work by spraying tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper. The print head contains thousands of microscopic nozzles that fire these droplets with incredible precision. As the print head moves back and forth across the paper, it lays down these droplets to form your text or images.

I've always been amazed by the quality inkjet printers can achieve, especially when it comes to photos. The ability to blend colors smoothly makes them a favorite among photographers and anyone who needs to print vibrant images.

Pros:

• Affordable initial cost
• Excellent photo quality
• Compact and lightweight
• Versatile paper handling
• No warm-up time needed

Cons:

• Higher cost per page
• Slower printing speeds
• Ink can smudge when wet
• Not ideal for high volumes
• Frequent ink replacements needed

What is a Laser Printer?

Laser printers have been a staple in offices for decades for good reason. These powerful devices use a technology that's very similar to photocopiers, creating sharp and professional-looking documents at impressive speeds.

Here's how it works: When you hit print, the printer's laser beam "draws" your document onto a drum inside the printer. This drum is coated with a material that becomes electrically charged where the laser hits it. Then, a fine powder called toner is applied to the drum. The toner sticks to the charged areas, creating your image or text. Finally, the toner is transferred onto paper and fused with heat and pressure, resulting in your printed page.

The best thing about laser printers is their speed and efficiency, especially for text-heavy documents. They're the go-to choice for many businesses that need to print out high volumes of paper quickly and consistently.

Pros:

• Fast printing speeds
• Sharp text quality
• Lower cost per page
• High-volume printing capability
• Smudge-resistant prints

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost
• Bulky size
• Less versatile paper handling
• Not ideal for photos
• Warm-up time required

What is an LED Printer?

LED printers might be the new kid on the block, but they're quickly gaining popularity. These printers are similar to laser printers in many ways, but with a key difference in how they create the image on the drum.

Instead of using a laser beam, LED printers employ a strip of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to create the image on the drum. The rest of the process - using toner and fusing it to the paper - is very similar to laser printers. This technology was pioneered by OKI in 1989, and other manufacturers have since adopted it.

The use of LEDs instead of lasers might seem like a small change, but it brings some significant advantages. LED printers tend to be more compact, as they don't need the space for a moving laser and mirror system. They're also often more reliable due to having fewer moving parts.

Pros:

• Compact design
• Reliable performance
• Energy-efficient operation
• Fast printing speeds
• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Limited model selection
• Higher upfront cost
• Less common than alternatives
• Potential color accuracy issues
• Limited availability of supplies

Choosing the right printer for your setup

When it comes to selecting the perfect printer for your needs, understanding the key differences between inkjet, laser, and LED printers is crucial. Let's recap these differences one more time so we can explore how to make the right choice:

How to create your ideal printing setup

Now that we've explored the different printing technologies, let's talk about how you can create the perfect printing setup for your needs. Remember, the right choice depends on your specific requirements, budget, and printing habits.

1. Assess your printing needs: Before you start shopping, take some time to think about what you'll be printing most often. Are you primarily printing text documents, or do you need high-quality photo prints? How many pages do you typically print per month? Understanding your needs will help guide your decision.
2. Consider your budget: While it's tempting to go for the cheapest option, remember to factor in long-term costs. Inkjet printers might be cheaper upfront, but if you print a lot, a laser printer could save you money in the long run due to lower per-page costs. Make sure to research the cost of replacement ink or toner for any printer you're considering.
3. Think about space and placement: Where will your printer live? If you're tight on space, a compact inkjet or LED printer might be your best bet. Also, consider connectivity options. Do you need Wi-Fi capabilities for easy printing from multiple devices, or is a simple USB connection sufficient?
4. Don't forget about paper handling: If you frequently print on different types of paper or envelopes, look for a printer with versatile paper handling capabilities. Some printers offer multiple trays or the ability to handle thicker paper stocks, which can be a real time-saver.
5. Future-proof your purchase: Technology is always evolving, so try to choose a printer that will meet your needs not just now, but for years to come. Look for features like mobile printing capabilities, cloud integration, or the ability to add functionality through software updates.

Remember, the perfect printer is out there waiting for you. By carefully considering your needs and understanding the strengths of each technology, you'll be well on your way to creating your ideal printing setup. Happy printing!

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A diverse workforce brings a range of skills, perspectives, and experiences that drive innovation and problem-solving, which in turn can lead to enhanced decision-making and improved business outcomes. True organizational diversity incorporates more than different cultural backgrounds and accessibility, though these are essential to cultivating a comprehensive and experienced workforce. It must also include varied personal and professional experiences to provide unique insights and skills that enrich the workplace.

Companies need to work proactively to attract talent from different backgrounds and industries, while recognizing that the most ideal person for the job is not always the person that lives nearby. Instead, organizations can unlock better collaboration and creativity by embracing workers of all capabilities, regardless of personal or geographical constraints.

Empowering employees

Remote solutions play a crucial role in empowering employees to work flexibly, and therefore supporting a company’s diversity. Organizations can hire people from different geographies and specializations by adopting remote work tools, as they are no longer constrained by the need for staff to be physically present in the office. This flexibility lets businesses attract talent who may have other commitments, such as caregiving or part-time work.

In addition to facilitating flexible working arrangements for employees, remote solutions also support businesses in enabling remote working in a secure and resilient way. With people working where and when it suits them, business leaders must couple solutions with comprehensive policies to ensure updates occur as needed and devices can be managed without employees having to come into their physical place of work.

Remote work solutions, such as remote desktop software, provide secure access to company systems so employees can collaborate efficiently from any location. Businesses can harness the power of real-time connectivity and remote-control capabilities to ensure that employees remain productive even when working outside traditional office environments. This is especially valuable for teams spread across different time zones and locations, or for individuals who may have personal or geographical limitations that prevent them from being onsite.

Remote solutions give organizations the flexibility to adapt to the diverse needs of their workforce. Companies can support varied working arrangements without compromising operational efficiency with the ability to scale remote work capabilities and integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. For example, cloud-based communication platforms facilitate video conferencing, file sharing, and instant messaging, ensuring remote and onsite employees can work together effectively.

Prioritizing diversity and inclusion

For companies prioritizing diversity and inclusion, these solutions make it possible to attract talent from different regions, industries, and personal circumstances. This fosters a more inclusive workplace where employees with unique experiences can contribute to the organization's success, driving innovation and enhancing competitiveness. This is also critical for organizations across many industries amid the ongoing skills and labor shortage, with data from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) indicating that 72% of UK employers find it difficult to fill vacancies due to a lack of suitable candidates.

Organizations that embrace remote solutions also benefit from improved access to niche skills and specializations. It is difficult for organizations across multiple industries to find professionals with the necessary expertise currently. Remote working lets businesses tap into a broader talent pool, ensuring that they have the most qualified professionals for their specific needs. This advantage is especially beneficial for roles where specialized knowledge and experience are often required, without relying on talent in the immediate geographic vicinity. Remote solutions also let businesses build more inclusive teams. Employees with different abilities, who may face challenges in a traditional office environment, can work comfortably from home or another suitable location. This inclusivity strengthens the company's commitment to diversity and success.

Remote solutions also create opportunities for those with different work patterns. Employees with varying schedules can contribute effectively without being limited by traditional work hours. This flexibility is critical in fostering inclusion and can enhance employee retention and satisfaction. Many employees value the opportunity to work remotely because it provides a better work-life balance, reduces commute times, and delivers greater autonomy in how they manage their day. Offering remote work options can make an organization more attractive to top talent and help retain existing employees. The reduction in turnover saves businesses time and money that would otherwise be spent on hiring and training new staff. The ability to work remotely lets companies build a workforce that is adaptable and responsive to change. Investing in remote work infrastructure ensures businesses can continue to achieve their goals while empowering individuals to work on their terms.

Remote working solutions remove barriers to diversity, letting people work from any location and empowering organizations to hire talent from various regions, industries, and even accessibility levels. This empowers organizations to hire the best person for the job, regardless of location.

We've listed the best free remote desktop software.

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

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Black Ops 6 Season One is right around the corner, given that the game is now out for all players. In the coming weeks, players will be treated to a new Battle Pass to work through, changes to Warzone, as well as some new content for Multiplayer. Unfortunately, Activision has yet to announce the specifics regarding Season One, but has confirmed the launch date.

If you weren't aware, new Call of Duty games tend to launch in a sort of pre-season state these days. This gives players the chance to jump into the game, leveling up guns and getting to grips with the map selection before new content is added. As such, there's currently no Battle Pass, but that's set to change. Even without Season One content, we're having a blast with Black Ops 6, and it's certainly looking to be a contender for our list of the best FPS games to play in 2024.

As we near the Black Ops 6 Season One release date, we'll likely start to hear more on what'll be added, and on the precise timings. For now, here's everything we know so far, including a look at when Season One comes out.

Black Ops 6 Season One release date

(Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 Season One release date is November 14, 2024. This was announced by Activision, confirming the rumored date. Check it out in the Tweet below:

In the first week after launch, two new updates pave the way for Season 01 and beyond with the addition of two Multiplayer favorites: the Infected game mode and the original 1950s Nuketown map #BlackOps6 pic.twitter.com/tSqSKXZ3bUOctober 29, 2024

Black Ops 6 Season One - what's being added?

(Image credit: Activision)

While Activision is yet to fully detail Season One, we do have some info on what will be added. According to this COD blog post, there will be "all-new Multiplayer maps and modes, a terrifying new in-season Zombies map, as well as the introduction of Omnimovement and Black Ops 6 weapons and Loadout features to Call of Duty: Warzone". We'll have to wait and see exactly what this entails, so stay tuned for updates.

Black Ops 6 Season One - what we'd like to see

(Image credit: Activision)

While we wait to hear exactly what Black Ops 6 Season One has in store, we'll be thinking about what we'd like to see added to the game. Of course, a Battle Pass is coming but beyond that, new content is harder to predict. Given that Black Ops 6 just launched, and given the fact that it contains all new maps, some familiar maps could be a welcome addition alongside Season One. We'd like to see the team pull from older Black Ops games specifically, such as Summit, as well as some of the best offerings from last year's remastered Modern Warfare 2 maps like Rust.

There are still plenty of weapons to work through in Black Ops 6, so new weapons in Season One aren't exactly top of our list of wishes. Instead, it'd be good to see further balancing patches, especially concerning the currently essential Gunfighter Wildcard. Over the next couple of weeks, it should become clear which guns in Black Ops 6 need nerfs, and which need buff. For now, though, the current slate of weapons feels surprisingly balanced, with everything from SMGs to Marksman rifles feeling genuinely viable.

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