Telecommunications is an inherently data-driven industry. Traditionally, great focus has been placed on gaining data visibility into the core and transit areas of the network. This approach has provided valuable insights for throughput optimizations, speed, and general performance.

Regardless of promises of speed, customers are mainly concerned about whether or not they’re able to watch streaming services, play live games, and connect with colleagues and loved ones via video calling - sometimes simultaneously. To solve for optimized performance and a great customer experience, telecommunication companies are shifting their focus toward further enhancing their last-mile visibility.

Historically, service providers have used the last-mile data they collect to identify the worst-performing connections and pinpoint the group of customers most at risk of churning to another provider. However, if approached correctly, last-mile performance intelligence can offer more than just a way to mitigate churn.

Today, when consumers visit the marketing and sign-up pages of telcos or internet service providers, they are typically presented with maps showing broad network coverage and similar pricing between providers, indicative of both the competitiveness of the telecommunications landscape and the utility-like nature of many of its services. On paper, there is often little to differentiate providers from a marketing perspective.

This is where the opportunity lies. Service providers are in a unique position by virtue of owning and operating the networks that connect users with the applications and services they’ve come to rely on in their daily lives. By rethinking their relationship with last-mile data, additional benefits - beyond customer retention - are ripe for the taking when it comes to intelligent fault diagnosis, customer communication, and differentiated services.

How incomplete last-mile data can impact decisions

One of the most important aspects of data-driven decision-making is that the source data underpinning the decision is clean, comprehensive, and has good lineage. This goes to its quality and reliability as the foundation for decision-making.

With more comprehensive last-mile data, service providers and carriers can make better informed decisions regarding new product launches, network planning, capacity, and capital allocation. For example, telcos and service providers will make significant moves around optimization of services for the needs of specific market segments - such as gaming, or industrial companies with IoT needs, and so on.

This kind of optimization has long been a promise of network slicing technology, and many telcos and providers now have this in their arsenal. Yet, the biggest challenge may be determining the best customer cohorts to target with this level of optimized services. This is a problem that is addressable in part by having more comprehensive last-mile data to analyze and base these decisions on.

Incomplete last-mile data also makes it harder to determine where a proposed investment in network infrastructure or capacity would have the biggest performance improvement. By contrast, in circumstances where the telco or service provider is collecting last-mile data from every active service, from every home or premises, they have a much more comprehensive understanding of how their services land, and where improvements most need to be made.

Last-mile intelligence as a differentiator

Telcos and service providers have always had options available to them to collect last-mile data: whether that’s TR-069 on customer premises equipment, or specific broadband monitoring boxes.

The key opportunity ahead lies in the improved capability within service provider environments to correlate and use last-mile intelligence.

For instance, last-mile network intelligence can significantly enhance the ability to deploy maintenance strategies proactively. By continuously monitoring the last-mile connections, service providers can identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems, reducing downtime and improving overall service reliability. This proactive approach not only helps in maintaining customer satisfaction but also reduces operational costs associated with emergency repairs and customer support.

Service providers can also use last-mile insight to analyze usage patterns and preferences to tailor their offerings for a higher level of personalization that can lead to deeper customer satisfaction and loyalty, as customers feel their specific needs are being met.

In a market where pricing and coverage are often similar, last-mile intelligence can be a key differentiator. Service providers that can demonstrate superior last-mile performance through transparent reporting, value-add services, and customer testimonials can gain a competitive edge. This transparency builds trust and can be a deciding factor for customers choosing between providers.

Where will richer data take you?

With insights into all last-mile connections, service providers can access a valuable dataset that has long been overlooked. This knowledge can enhance customer experience and inform a wider range of commercial decisions, resulting in comprehensive strategies that are supported by a clearer understanding of the last-mile situation and the needs of their subscribers.

We rate the best network monitoring tool.

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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Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) has become a hot commodity, with companies around the world enjoying access to multiple rapidly-growing, full-spectrum data marketplaces provided by the likes of IBM and Google, as well as S&P Global, Snowflake, and others.

What is underpinning their rising popularity is the fact that hedge funds, investors, and financial services companies are increasingly discovering how they can leverage these rich datasets to make informed decisions.

Governments around the world have also been quick to adopt DaaS practices, especially when it comes to data monetization drives in such fields as health care and smart city projects.

My aim with this article is to explain what DaaS is, what it is packing “under the hood”, and what data collection alternatives are currently available to businesses and organizations.

What is DaaS?

In a nutshell, Data-as-a-Service is a cloud-based type of software that provides users with multi-source data on demand via APIs, rather than as a standalone product. In other words, by paying a subscription fee based on data usage, businesses gain access to numerous data sets rated by other users, making it easy for them to find what they need.

DaaS facilitates the consolidation of enterprise data in one place and, unlike other data management frameworks, doesn’t require users to have extensive on-premises IT infrastructure or expertise to store, manage, retrieve, and otherwise handle massive amounts of data. As of 2024, there are a total of 60 publicly traded DaaS companies.

As with any other technology, DaaS comes with its own set of pros and cons. On the pro side, it has been used to reduce licensing costs, streamline workloads by leveraging cloud services, speed up software development, create enterprise benchmarking reports, and boost the efficiency of business intelligence.

DaaS’s cons, meanwhile, include risks like data privacy breaches, security violations when dealing with sensitive data, and the low quality of granular, niche data types.

What powers DaaS?

DaaS makes extensive use of alternative data. How do we define that though? Traditional data can be defined as pretty much all publicly available, structured data produced under legal and official supervision. This would include data from statistics departments, press releases, financial statements, and so forth.

Alternative data, on the other hand, is typically unstructured, stored in multiple different formats (from blocks of text to video clips), and extracted for specific purposes. Some businesses — particularly financial services and investment companies — are highly reliant on exactly this type of data already. A key reason for this is that alternative data often contains unique investment signals that aren’t present in its traditional counterpart.

The most common method of collecting alternative data is called web scraping, which dates back to around 1989. In basic terms, web scraping uses specialized software to copy large amounts of unstructured public data from websites automatically and transfer it to a central database or spreadsheet, where it is converted into structured data, for later analysis. This form of data gathering is arguably the main engine behind the power of DaaS marketplaces.

Web scraping has been rapidly rising in popularity over the past decade. As global competition continues to heat up, more and more companies are turning to web scraping to make better-informed business decisions and gain an edge over their market opponents. And with vast amounts of data being generated every single day — around 2.5 quintillion bytes, to be precise — the ways of collecting alternative data and putting it to good use are potentially limitless.

To sum up, DaaS marketplaces often use web scraping to collect alternative data, which may contain unique signals, and provide their customers with powerful cloud infrastructure they can use to analyze it according to their individual needs.

SaaS, DaaS, or… ?

Businesses and organizations have three ways of acquiring the alternative data they need. Let’s take a brief look at each in turn.

Web scraping with SaaS

The first method entails the use of web scraping software (e.g., via a customized scraper API) and an ethical proxy network from a reliable provider. This in-house approach comes with a substantial learning curve and requires a good deal of maintenance — e.g., when a website changes its HTML structure and content, the scraping pipelines can break. There are also potential legal issues, such as accidentally scraping sensitive data.

The main benefit of web scraping with SaaS is that you actually control the data you get. Which means that it’s easier to control its quality, to target specific data, and to maintain security, privacy, and compliance, especially if you’re gathering sensitive information. In addition, you get your data fast, at relatively low cost, and it comes in a structured form.

Buying ready-made datasets

The second method is to buy ready-made datasets that match your needs. While this does mean that you’ll be dependent on a specific vendor (or vendors) for updates and support, as well as somewhat limited customization options, you also get many benefits. For instance, since you’re buying a finished product, you can start using it immediately — no in-house data collection required, and no infrastructure-related overhead.

Ready-made datasets are relatively cheap, as licensing or subscription fees replace substantial upfront investments. Additionally, since you’re getting your data pre-packaged by a reputable vendor, it’s going to be of high quality. This is because companies that sell datasets use various data validation techniques to ensure its accuracy.

Sourcing from a DaaS marketplace

Finally, you may opt for getting your data from a DaaS marketplace, which combines data collection, storage, and management. Since we’ve already covered “vanilla” DaaS, it might be worthwhile mentioning Big Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS) here. In basic terms, what you get with BDaaS is not simply more data, but also a whole data analytics package designed to help companies extract the insights they need.

Given that, according to current projections, the BDaaS market value will reach over $52 billion by 2026, you might want to keep an eye on this in the future. For now, however, if you don’t have much experience in working with data, it’s probably best to sit this one out.

Final word

Ultimately, which method is best depends on your needs. Can you get the data you require in the form of standalone datasets? Does it make sense to collect it yourself using a custom SaaS web scraper? Or perhaps you need access to larger pools of data via something like BDaaS?

Before making that all important decision, make sure you’ve established exactly what type of data you actually require, and what is the easiest, most cost-effective way of obtaining it.

We list the cheapest proxy services.

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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• The Google TV Streamer's Home Panel is arriving on more devices
• Requires you to have a Home set up in the Google Home app
• Includes live video and doorbell notifications

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One of the things we really like about the Google TV Streamer is its Home Panel, which enables you to control your smart home devices from your TV. And now it's coming to more Google devices.

The Home Panel was originally exclusive to the Streamer, but Google made it clear that the plan was to roll it out more widely by launching a Public Preview. That preview has now become a roll-out, and that means it's available for Chromecast devices and Google TVs too.

Not only that, but Google is rolling it out to models that have long been discontinued, including some older Chromecasts and Hisense TVs.

How to get the Home Panel on your Chromecast or Google TV

According to 9to5Google, the update means you'll get a pop-up on your compatible device the next time you use it. It'll ask you if you want to set up the Home Panel, and if you do it'll take you step by step through the process.

It seems that all the features from the Streamer are present and correct, including Nest Doorbell notifications; control of lights, thermostats and speakers; live view from cameras; and quick access directly from the Quick Settings panel.

In addition to adding the feature to your TV or Chromecast, you'll also need to have a Home set up in the Google Home app. That should be the same Home that your Google TV is part of; if there isn't a Home set up, you won't get the Home Panel notification.

And finally, you'll need to be a grown-up. Google quite sensibly doesn't want the kids getting their hands on all your smart home controls.

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In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic the UK has witnessed a seismic shift in work patterns, with a staggering 41% of workers now engaging in remote work. This trend towards hybrid work arrangements has been on a consistent and steep rise, introducing major cybersecurity concerns for organizations around the world.

As companies adapt to this new reality, they face the multifaceted challenge of managing unsecured networks at home, coupled with a lack of IT oversight and insufficient employee awareness.

A paradigm shift

The transition to hybrid work models has been swift and widespread, marking a paradigm shift in how businesses operate. What began as a necessary response to lockdown measures has evolved into a preferred mode of working for many employees and employers alike. It’s not just working from home which is an issue, employees can often work abroad in other countries.

This change in usual business dynamics offers numerous benefits, including improved work-life balance, reduced commuting times, and potential cost savings for businesses. However, it also brings with it a host of cybersecurity challenges that organizations must address urgently to ensure their long-term viability and security.

The weakest link

Many employees work on home Wi-Fi networks that lack enterprise-grade security measures - making them vulnerable to attacks. These networks often use default or weak passwords, outdated firmware, and may not have proper encryption protocols in place. This creates an easy entry point for cybercriminals to intercept sensitive data or gain unauthorized access to corporate systems.

Blurring the lines between work and personal

The use of personal devices for work purposes, often referred to as ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD), can lead to data breaches if these devices are not properly secured or managed. Personal devices may lack the latest security patches, have outdated antivirus software, or contain malicious applications that could compromise corporate data.

Limited IT oversight

Remote work environments make it challenging for IT teams to monitor and manage security effectively, potentially leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed. The inability to physically access devices or networks complicates troubleshooting and security enforcement, leading to potential gaps in the organization's security posture.

The human factor

Without proper training, employees may inadvertently expose company data or fall victim to phishing attacks and other social engineering tactics. The human factor remains one of the most significant vulnerabilities in any security system, and the distributed nature of hybrid work exacerbates this risk.

Employees working remotely may resort to using unauthorized applications or services to facilitate their work, a practice known as shadow IT. This can introduce unknown vulnerabilities into the corporate network and make it difficult for IT departments to maintain control over data flow and security.

Cloud security risks

The increased reliance on cloud services for collaboration and data storage introduces new security challenges that must be carefully managed. While cloud services offer flexibility and scalability, they also present new attack vectors if not properly configured and secured.

Building a resilient defense

As hybrid work becomes the norm, companies must critically address their security systems to protect against evolving cyber threats. It is vital that organizations have comprehensive cyber threat protocols in place, especially considering that cyber attacks are constantly on the rise and evolving to make recovery as difficult as possible.

Key steps that companies should consider include:

Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access to company systems and data. By requiring multiple forms of verification, such as a password combined with a fingerprint or a one-time code sent to a mobile device, MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised.

Deploying virtual private networks (VPNs): VPNs create secure connections for remote workers, encrypting data in transit and protecting against eavesdropping. This is particularly crucial when employees are using public Wi-Fi networks or working from locations with potentially compromised internet connections.

Enhancing endpoint security: Robust protection for all devices accessing company resources is crucial in a distributed work environment. This includes implementing and regularly updating antivirus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems on all endpoints, including mobile devices and laptops.

Adopting cloud-based security solutions: Cloud-based security solutions can provide scalable and flexible security measures that adapt to the needs of a hybrid workforce. These solutions often include features such as real-time threat detection, automated patch management, and centralized security policy enforcement across all devices and locations.

Conducting regular security training: Ongoing cybersecurity awareness programs for all employees are essential to mitigate human error-related risks. This training should cover topics such as identifying phishing attempts, proper handling of sensitive data, and best practices for secure remote work.

Implementing Zero Trust architecture: A Zero Trust security model assumes that no user or device should be automatically trusted, regardless of their location or network connection. This approach requires continuous verification and authorization for all access requests, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Staying ahead of the curve

The shift to hybrid working has necessitated significant investments in technology and resources. However, it has also presented an opportunity for businesses to modernize their security posture and build resilience against emerging threats. Companies that successfully adapt to these changes can not only protect their assets but also gain a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.

Beyond implementing technical solutions, organizations should focus on fostering a culture of security awareness among their employees. This involves regular communication about security best practices, recognition of employees who demonstrate good security habits, and integration of security considerations into all aspects of business operations.

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

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In 2024, less than 1% of enterprise software applications incorporated agentic AI but, according to Gartner, that number is expected to reach 33% by 2028. Understandably, industrial enterprises have shown a growing interest in agentic AI, hoping to leverage this transformative technology for real-world business applications.

While eager to adopt the next phase of AI innovation, many are facing a dreaded “Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Purgatory,” failing to scale their AI tools beyond pilot stages.

For most, the core question isn’t whether agentic AI can improve their operations but how quickly it will deliver tangible value — and PoC Purgatory is holding them back.

Let’s explore some of the key reasons for this bottleneck, the barriers to unlocking agentic AI’s full potential and strategies to overcome them.

Why are Industrial Enterprises Getting Stuck in PoC Purgatory?

The transition from PoC pilots to large-scale deployment is not a straightforward journey. Agentic AI adoption is unlike any other technological adoption before it, and several challenges are likely to arise as industrial enterprises work to take the next step toward scalable implementation, including:

1. Change Management Concerns: Industrial enterprises are often reluctant to embrace significant changes, especially when adopting technologies that drastically alter their operations. This fear stems from concerns about losing control over key business processes and the uncertainty of how these changes might impact their workflows. As a result, they may delay or abandon initiatives because of apprehension tied to unknown challenges and potential disruptions that come with relinquishing control to automated systems such as agents.

2. Lack of Clear Success Metrics: Without well-defined success metrics, it’s difficult for companies to assess the effectiveness of emerging tools. Determining how agentic AI will impact key business outcomes, such as productivity, cost reduction or operational efficiency, is not a simple task. This lack of clarity can impact decision-making and delay implementation efforts.

3. Appropriate Use Case Assessment: Identifying the right use cases for agent-driven technologies and understanding which complex processes they can effectively manage presents a significant challenge. To do this, businesses need deep domain knowledge and a clear grasp of their internal operations. Without this insight, they risk getting stuck in a testing phase, where only simple, non-representative scenarios are tried, ultimately hindering the potential to leverage agents for more impactful, complex tasks.

4. The Need for a Robust Data Framework: While 86% of organizations recognize data readiness as crucial for AI success, only 23% have built the necessary foundation to make it happen. For industrial enterprises, the challenge is even greater, as outdated technology, fragmented data and legacy systems complicate AI deployment — and scaling agents only complicates things further. Agentic AI requires a powerful framework that can support an army of agents creating vast amounts of data in near real-time, making the process more complex and resource-intensive.

5. Workforce Resistance: Since agentic AI fully automates certain tasks away from humans, employee resistance to the growing roles of agents is almost guaranteed based on early pushback seen from chatbots. While it allows people to focus on high-value items and only engage with agents on items that need approval or are lined with uncertainty, a fair amount of autonomy around work and how it’s done must be relinquished, which can be uncomfortable.

What Steps Can Industrial Enterprises Take to Reach Scaled AI Deployment?

The barriers laid out above can certainly be daunting, but overcoming them is well within reach for forward-thinking enterprises. Those looking to scale their agentic AI applications should start by following these five steps:

1. Define Clear Business Outcomes and Roles for Agents: The first step is to clearly define the business outcomes that AI agents aim to achieve, and then map these outcomes to specific types of agents. For example, a monitoring agent, which operates continuously in the background, might have a KPI focused on uptime improvements while an agent that automates an end-to-end process focuses on productivity gains. By aligning AI agents with strategic business priorities and setting clear KPIs for each, organizations can create a strong foundation for measuring success.

2. Ensure Data and Infrastructure Readiness: Agents rely not only on data quality, availability and efficient processing but also on process readiness. To move beyond PoC, companies must upgrade their data infrastructure and map out their processes. They also need to have a clear understanding of how their operations work, providing well-defined guidelines within which agents can operate. 3. Establishing AI governance frameworks ensures that implementations meet security, compliance and reliability standards while giving agents the structure needed to find effective solutions autonomously.

3. Adopt a Phased Approach to Deployment: Rather than attempting a full-scale rollout from the outset, enterprises should take a phased approach. Begin with a targeted, high-impact agent that is likely to deliver measurable results, then refine and scale the model based on feedback. Continuous iteration is key to ensuring the agents can adapt to real-world conditions and evolve alongside the business needs. Once initial success is found, additional types of agents can be deployed across other business initiatives with greater ease.

4. Drive Organizational and Workforce Alignment: With nearly half of the workforce concerned that AI may replace their jobs, leaders can’t simply introduce agentic AI and walk away. As processes become automated, employees will shift to new tasks such as overseeing outcomes and providing overall sign-off rather than executing each step manually. Companies should invest in robust onboarding initiatives, including training and upskilling programs, to ensure a smooth transition. Engaging cross-functional teams—such as operators, IT management and business leaders—early in the process will help create a sense of ownership and foster collaboration across the business.

5. Measure, Iterate and Scale with Confidence: Once agents are deployed, it’s crucial to continuously monitor their scope and performance against predefined KPIs. This includes assessing whether an agent starts with a relatively simple task and gradually gains more autonomy over time or if there are specific areas where the agent struggles. Enterprises should also evaluate if agents are trusted to go beyond the company’s internal systems, such as negotiating and purchasing from suppliers. By establishing enterprise-wide frameworks for agents, organizations can streamline future projects, improve agent performance and accelerate their ability to scale agent initiatives across the business.

Take Agentic AI from Endless Pilots to Real-World Impact

Moving beyond PoC purgatory to achieve full-scale agentic AI deployment requires overcoming several significant hurdles. Addressing common barriers such as fear of failure, siloed initiatives and infrastructure challenges will be critical for industrial enterprises to unlock the full potential of these autonomous tools.

Despite many organizations having already rolled out standard agents, the path to fully autonomous agents won’t be without challenges. By making strategic investments and taking a methodical approach to not only scaling agents but also defining their specific roles, industrial enterprises can move beyond endless trials and begin reaping the rewards of agentic AI in the real world well before Gartner’s predicted 2028 surge.

We rate the best business intelligence platform.

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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• Photos of iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro dummy units have leaked
• Going by these images, the iPhone 17 Pro looks large and chunky
• Despite having a sleeker design, the iPhone 17 Air is predicted to not sell as well

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We’re still months away from the likely September launch of the iPhone 17 series, but we’ve already seen many images purported to show dummy units of these phones, giving us a good idea of their possible designs.

The latest such images have been shared by leaker Majin Bu, who's posted images said to show an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit and an iPhone 17 Pro one.

They don’t really show us anything that earlier leaks haven’t already, but you can see that the iPhone 17 Air looks quite sleek, while the iPhone 17 Pro has a huge camera bump, and looks like it might be larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which it’s shown next to in one image.

As ever, we’d take these images with a pinch of salt, as while these dummy units could be based on official information there’s no guarantee of that. However, they do match up with previous leaks, and, going by most of the leaks we’ve seen so far, the iPhone 17 Air arguably looks more visually appealing than the Pro. But that might not translate into better sales.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro in comparison pic.twitter.com/CGpxJSysGMApril 26, 2025

Substance over style

According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman in his latest newsletter for Bloomberg (via PhoneArena) the iPhone 17 Air is unlikely to “set any sales records”. That doesn’t mean it will be a failure – Gurman predicts that it will outsell Apple’s Plus and mini models, but he expects the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will prove the most popular.

That’s not particularly surprising though. Apple’s Pro handsets tend to outsell the other iPhone models, and while the iPhone 17 Air may well be the most stylish of the iPhone 17 series, it will probably be far from the best when it comes to specs.

Leaks have suggested that the iPhone 17 Air will have just one rear camera, for example, and there are also concerns over how good its battery life will be, given the likely very limited space for a battery.

Coupled with a probably fairly high price, the iPhone 17 Air could be a tough sell for anyone who cares about specs as much as design.

We probably won’t find out exactly how capable or popular the iPhone 17 Air is until September; but, given how extensively it and the other iPhone 17 models have already leaked, we’d expect to learn lots more unofficially in the meantime.

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The UK government’s recently announced ban on public sector ransomware payments has received mixed reactions from industry.

With the aim of removing the financial incentives that fuel ransomware attacks and making public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure less attractive targets, the policy marks a significant step in the fight against cybercrime.

But the introduction of this new policy has not come without criticism. While supporters acknowledge that ransom payments reward criminals and fund more crime, others warn that it could lead to negative consequences such as promoting a secondary black market or impacting ransomware reporting.

Cybersecurity is a complex web with no straightforward solution. While it’s positive to see new ideas being explored, industry experts and policy makers must act with caution and consider all possible consequences before implementing measures to address security risks.

Loopholes in the ban

The legislation seeks to prohibit payments from public sector bodies, but organizations may seek out ways around the restrictions to enable the recovery of their services, minimize financial impact of an attack, or even ensure that their customers data is not leaked to the world.

One potential loophole is the use of overseas bank accounts or third-party intermediaries to facilitate payments without direct involvement. If I were a firm with offices in the UK and Germany, what’s to stop me using my German entity to pay? Or using a third party that I pay back for ‘security services rendered’? Loopholes will be found that businesses can exploit, meaning the ransomware ban will lose its effectiveness and essentially create an uneven playing field for organizations.

The dilemma of payment

Ransomware already provides an ethical dilemma for CISOs. None want to pay, recognising it for promoting the continuing cycle of cyber attacks, however many are hesitant to sign a blanket non-payment policy, fearing that in extreme circumstances, they may need to break it to ensure the survival of their organization.

This ban will amplify that dilemma for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and business leaders.

For organizations facing ransomware attacks, the reality is grim: pay the ransom and recover access to critical systems or refuse and risk prolonged service outages and uncontrolled data spills.

Will the government step in to support businesses that suffer from prolonged disruptions? How about if they face a stark choice between payment and business survival? And what if an organization is responsible for providing life-saving or critical public services, does the government bear some responsibility in ensuring operational continuity?

These are critical questions that remain unanswered.

CISOs may be hesitant to sign a blanket non-payment policy, fearing that in extreme circumstances, they may need to break it to protect their organization. A rigid stance against payment may be ideal in theory, but in practice, businesses need flexibility to respond to complex and evolving cyber threats.

Impact on intelligence gathering

Another significant concern is the impact on information sharing. If businesses are legally stopped from making ransomware payments, they may choose to mislabel such attacks or avoid reporting ransomware incidents altogether to avoid scrutiny or potential penalties. This would enable them to have more flexibility in their response.

This could have severe consequences for cybersecurity intelligence. Reduced reporting means a lack of visibility into attack patterns, techniques, and emerging threats – this could inadvertently benefit cybercriminals in the long run.

Bypassing the ban does not come without risk, however. Secretly paying a ransom could drive the emergence of a secondary blackmail market, where attackers threaten to expose victims who choose to pay in secret.

Organizations may find themselves not only negotiating with cybercriminals for data access but also facing extortion threats over the payment itself. This added layer of complexity could lead firms into worse financial situations, all in their attempts to restore their service in the most effective manner.

A roadmap forward

A rigid stance against payment may be ideal in theory, but in practice, businesses will demand flexibility to respond to complex and evolving cyber threats as they see fit – enabling them to manage the complex risks and issue that follow a cyber attack – such as service restoration and data privacy.

It’s evident that we should strongly dissuade firms from paying ransomware demands, however a need for flexibility is what businesses really need. As such, perhaps the government could embrace a model that permits a controlled path for payment in exceptional circumstances.

Firstly, mandatory reporting of ransomware attacks to a suitable authority should be enforced, regardless of whether a payment is made. This would ensure comprehensive tracking and analysis of ransomware incidents, contributing to a more robust understanding of the threat landscape.

If a firm wished to pay a ransom, this could be permitted but only with the express approval of UK government or National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This would keep track of the payments and provide oversight on regular victims who would benefit from resilience improvements.

Businesses should also be required to provide staff with proper training and education around cyber-attacks, ensuring they are ready to react appropriately if an attack occurs.

A measured response is needed

While the government's ban on ransomware payments aims to reduce the financial incentives behind cyberattacks, it also presents several critical issues. Payment dilemmas and impacts on intelligence gathering, for example, must be addressed.

A collaborative effort between businesses and the government, with mandatory reporting, flexible payment options and required training, is needed. By providing the necessary tools, support and a clear protocol for reporting and response, organizations can better navigate the complexities of ransomware attacks.

We've rated the best antivirus 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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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #686).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #687) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MOUSSE
• DRAIN
• BARE
• TIRE
• HAIR
• BORE
• TIRE MARK
• EXHAUST
• PLAIN
• SPRAY
• SPARE
• FIBER
• WAX
• SIMPLE
• FINGERPRINT
• GEL

NYT Connections today (game #687) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: For styling
• GREEN: Pared back 
• BLUE: Vital evidence
• PURPLE: Pooped

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #687) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS 
• GREEN: AUSTERE 
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE 
• PURPLE: WEARY 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #687) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #687, are…

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, WAX
• GREEN: AUSTERE BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, SPARE
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE FIBER, FINGERPRINT, HAIR, TIRE MARK
• PURPLE: WEARY BORE, DRAIN, EXHAUST, TIRE

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking car parts could be a common thread today, with EXHAUST and TIRE leading my thinking. Instead, it was the other meaning of both those words that made up a group.

I’m staggered that I got a purple group so early in the game. Usually it’s the quartet that baffles me and that I solve last when there are no other alternatives, but today it seemed rather obvious.

CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE was trickier, but thoughts that they were all things that could identify us led me to connect this group.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, April 27, game #686)

• YELLOW: CALCULATOR BUTTONS EQUALS, MINUS, PERCENT, TIMES
• GREEN: AMOUNTS OF HAIR LOCK, SHOCK, THATCH, TUFT
• BLUE: SALTY SNACK UNIT COMBO, GOLDFISH, RUFFLE, TAKI
• PURPLE: SWEDISH ____ CHEF, FISH, MASSAGE, MEATBALL

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What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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• New DJI Mavic 4 Pro image leaks have appeared
• It looks like two extra sensors could be added
• We also get a preview of the combo accessory packs

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Our DJI Mavic 3 Pro review will tell you that we have been hugely impressed with the flagship consumer drone DJI launched in April, 2023 – awarding it five stars out of five – and newly leaked images give us a really good look at its 2024 successor.

These pictures come from well-known tipster @Quadro_News (via Notebookcheck), and there are a lot of them to work through. As well as seeing the drone itself from a variety of angles, we also see some of the accessories that will be available with it.

As far as the design goes, it doesn't look as though much will be changing this year. However, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with a couple of extra sensors to work alongside the LiDAR tech for better obstacle avoidance.

It looks as though the new drone will get Fly More and Creator combos as well, just like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and these additional batteries, cellular dongles, propellers and other accessories. The inclusion of ND (Neutral Density) filters suggests this tech won't be built into the drone itself, as had been previously rumored.

Earlier leaks and rumors

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro launched in April 2023 (Image credit: Future)

The DJI Mavic Pro 4 had previously been tipped to launch on April 24, and a quick glance at your calendar will tell you that didn't happen. However, it shouldn't be too long now before all of this is made official.

We've also heard that the new drone is going to be sold for $2,250 when it appears, which is just a touch higher than the $2,199 / £1,879 / AU$3,099 price of the drone it's replacing – though combo packs and accessories will of course cost you extra.

Another earlier leak gave us a good look at the triple-camera module that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with. It also appears that the propellers are going to get some design tweaks to enable quieter operation and a longer flight time.

All in all, this seems like a pretty substantial upgrade from the 2023 version, and these latest image leaks mean we now have a much better idea of what's coming. As soon as anything is made official, we'll let you know.

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The Steam Deck is pretty cool, isn’t it? You may be wondering where I’ve been all this time, if I’m only just finding out about the brilliance of Valve’s handheld gaming PC. The truth is that I was waiting to see what the Nintendo Switch 2 had to offer before deciding if I’d get aboard the hype train. Now, after seeing exactly what’s coming on June 5, I think I’m happy to skip Nintendo’s upcoming console.

Very briefly, a word on prices. Because while I feel the backlash is entirely valid (especially when it comes to the cost of Switch 2 games), it’s been said more than enough times already. And it’s not the main reason my interest in the new console has plummeted.

It’s more the fact that the Steam Deck is just too damn good. It also helped that I paid £249 (about $370) for it through the Certified Refurbished Steam Deck program.

There’s always a concern with buying secondhand that you'll end up with an inferior product. But, as I found with my experience of the eBay Certified Refurbished program, steps have been taken to make these products as close to as good as new as possible for buyers.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived in a plain but functional box and included a surprisingly sturdy carry case. The handheld itself looked in top condition, free of any marks, scratches, nicks, or dents that might indicate it had been used or returned. Performance has been excellent, too, well in line with what you’d expect from a new system.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived with this useful carry case included (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

So, if you have any doubts about the quality of a Valve Certified Refurbished Steam Deck, then take my word for it – I was very impressed by the quality and condition of the handheld. I would have guessed it was a completely brand-new Steam Deck if I hadn’t known otherwise.

Decked out

Now, onto what it’s actually like to use. I’m sure fellow Deck owners will agree that it’s glorious, right? SteamOS is beautifully presented and easy to navigate, and a considerable number of games are verified and well-optimised to work on the system. Sure, you may have to make to graphical concessions here or there, but with the games I’m playing, that’s rarely an issue.

Given I now do most of my gaming on the PS5 – and my PC is still rocking an ancient GTX 1060 – I’ve been out of the loop with PC gaming for a good five years. I did miss the variety and inventiveness of many smaller games or indie darlings that never make their way to the major consoles, or don’t do so for many years down the line.

That was a huge draw of getting the Steam Deck: to play these unique, interesting and often fascinating games in reasonably good quality without needing to sit at the same desk I’d just worked at for the last eight hours.

It’s been a blast uncovering all the surprise gems of UFO 50, enjoying the explosive chaos of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, and reminding myself of the mystifying nature of the original Tomb Raider trilogy.

I've tried a whole array of games on the Steam Deck I might've otherwise missed (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

Adding my GOG and Epic Game Store library (mostly freebies I’ve claimed over the years just because I can) has also been a breeze, but an even bigger win has been setting up PS5 Remote Play so I can stream from the console to the Deck, much like the PS Portal. That’s been a huge bonus to chip away at monumental 100+ hour RPGs that Metaphor: Refanzaio without hogging the TV from my partner every evening.

While that would’ve been possible with the PS Portal, instead of spending £200 on that dedicated piece of hardware, I can also access my entire PC games library for just £50 more.

I’ve experienced all of that in the few dozen hours I’ve had with the Steam Deck so far. I know there’s even more to look forward to when I dig even further into my back catalog to finally play some of those Steam sale impulse buys from years ago, or rediscover a classic I thought I wouldn’t return to without a gaming PC.

Switched off

I weighed all of that up with what was shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase.

There’s a new version of Mario Kart that looks perfectly fine, an unexpected but welcome outing for DK in Donkey Kong Bananza, a surprising From Software exclusive in The Duskbloods, and the long-awaited release of Metroid Prime 4.

Alongside that is a lot of excitement about an online chat feature (that also works best with an extra camera accessory), a paid-for tech demo in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and various upgrade fees to play last-gen games at a better performance level.

Will I miss not playing the latest Mario, Metroid, or Zelda? For sure. But it seems many of these games will still be playable on the old console too, even if I have to fight with my OG Switch’s pathetic battery life. And, ultimately, there’s already so much awaiting on the Steam Deck that I don’t think I’ll be missing out on too much.

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• Acorn’s ARM1 chip kicked off a 40-year computing legacy
• Arm chips now power over 300 billion devices worldwide and counting
• 99% of smartphones run on Arm and there's growing adoption in IoT, cloud, and AI workloads

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In April 1985, a small team at Acorn Computers in Cambridge, UK, set out to rethink what a processor could be. Engineers Sophie Wilson and Steve Furber developed the ARM1 (it originally stood for Advanced RISC Machines), an unassuming chip with just 25,000 transistors, to power the BBC Micro, crafting a 32-bit processor that emphasized reduced instruction sets for faster, more efficient computation.

The design's low power consumption was partially driven by practical constraints, namely the need to run in cheaper plastic packaging. ARM2 soon followed, incorporated into the Acorn Archimedes, the first RISC-based home computer. ARM3 introduced a 4KB cache and further improved performance.

After the spin-off from Acorn in 1990, ARM Ltd. was founded as a joint venture between Acorn, Apple, and VLSI. One early commercial success was the Apple Newton, followed by widespread adoption in mobile phones like the Nokia 6110, which featured the ARM7TDMI.

(Image credit: Arm)

Looking to the future

ARM6, introduced in 1991, brought full 32-bit processing and an MMU, key to powering GSM mobile phones. In 2005, Armv7 architecture debuted with the Cortex-A8 processor, which brought SIMD (NEON) support and powered many early smartphones.

In 2011, Armv8 introduced 64-bit support and became the foundation for cloud, data center, mobile, and automotive computing. Features like SVE and Helium pushed performance and AI capabilities further.

The 2021 launch of Armv9 marked the architecture's shift into AI-centric workloads. It introduced Scalable Vector Extension 2 (SVE2), Scalable Matrix Extension (SME), and Confidential Compute Architecture (CCA).

These features made it suitable for everything from smartphones with advanced image processing to AI servers handling generative workloads. SME accelerates generative AI and MoE models, while SVE2 brings enhanced AI capability to general-purpose compute.

Arm's compute subsystems (CSS), based on Armv9, now serve client, infrastructure, and automotive markets. By integrating CPUs, interconnects, and memory interfaces, these CSS platforms support rapid development of specialized silicon.

From the original ARM1 with just 25,000 transistors to today’s Armv9 CPUs packing 100 million gates, the architecture has consistently driven computing forward for four decades. Arm-based chips now power over 300 billion devices worldwide, from tiny embedded sensors to full-scale data centers.

With 99% of smartphones running on Arm and growing adoption in IoT, cloud, and AI workloads, the architecture continues to scale thanks to its energy-efficient design and flexible licensing model.

Looking ahead, there have been growing rumors that Arm could move beyond licensing and into chip production, something that would put it in competition with its biggest customers. This speculation intensified recently following the acquisition of Ampere Computing, Arm’s only independent server chip vendor, by SoftBank, Arm’s Japanese owner.

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• Softbank buying Ampere for $6.5 billion and could integrate it with Arm
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• Another Samsung tri-fold leak has emerged
• The main screen size is said to be 9.9 inches
• It seems the phone will be launching this year

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Samsung has confirmed that it's working on a tri-fold foldable phone, and while we don't have too many details about it yet, the latest leak around the handset gives us some more information about the screen size.

This tip comes from well-known leaker Digital Chat Station (via Notebookcheck), who says that we're looking at a main screen size of around 9.9 inches. That's a little smaller than the 10.2-inch display sported by the Huawei Mate XT tri-fold.

It also lines up rather neatly with previous rumors around this Samsung device: those rumors have predicted a main screen size of 9.96 inches and an outer screen size of 6.49 inches, which also indicates a key difference from the Huawei Mate XT.

Whereas the three panels of the Mate XT fold back on each other, leaving a third of the screen visible when it's closed, the Samsung tri-fold is expected to fold inwards – so all of the main display gets covered up when it's shut, and a second display is needed.

More leaks and rumors

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 should get a successor this year (Image credit: Future)

This same leak suggests that the Samsung tri-fold will be launching this year. It may show up sometime in July, which is when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are expected to be unveiled.

Other whispers we've heard around this Samsung tri-fold are that it'll offer 2,600 nits of brightness on its screens, which is a very decent figure and matches up with what's already offered by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

There's also been talk that the tri-fold might end up being called the Samsung Galaxy G Fold. That's by no means official yet, but that moniker would fit in neatly with the other foldable phones that Samsung already manufactures.

It's going to be interesting to see how Samsung prices this phone. Obviously, it's going to have to cost a lot because of the tech, but we're hoping that it's not prohibitively expensive – and that it goes on sale worldwide.

You might also like

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The YouTube experience on TVs has always felt like an afterthought compared to watching it on phones or the web. But with TV recently becoming more popular than mobile for watching YouTube in the US, the television experience is finally going to get a redesign soon – and that's great news, as long as some annoying issues are fixed in the process.

Nearly all of my YouTube watching takes place on my TV via the Apple TV app. I thought this made me a streaming dinosaur, but the 2025 stats say different, and that's why YouTube has promised to prioritize the big screen this year in a way that it never has before.

This week, to tie in with YouTube's 20th birthday, we heard that the home of short-form video is getting a "TV viewing upgrade" that will roll out "this summer".

Precise details of what that means are scarce, but a teaser image (above) gives us an idea of what to expect, along with a few promised improvements.

These include "easier navigation" (let's hope that includes an improved search experience), plus some "quality tweaks" and a better playback experience. YouTube is also promising "streamlined access to comments, channel info, and subscribing."

That last point caught my eye, because a relatively recent change to subscriptions in YouTube's Apple TV app has become a serious pain – and according to Reddit threads, I'm not alone in feeling that way.

Rather than listing your subscriptions in alphabetical order, the TV app on most services (Google TV, Fire TV, and more) now jumbles them up confusingly in order of mysterious "relevance" – even though that isn't the case in the mobile app. And it frustrates me almost every time I watch YouTube on the big screen.

A more TV-like experience

The YouTube app on TV platforms like Apple TV (above) now effectively puts your subscriptions in shuffle mode – which isn't a great experience if you're looking for something specific. (Image credit: Future)

Granted, there are bigger complaints about the YouTube experience on TVs – most notably, an increasingly painful ad experience that is making YouTube Premium mandatory, unless you enjoy pressing the mute button every few minutes.

But I'm hoping YouTube's promised navigation improvements include bringing back alphabetical subscription lists, or a better way to experience them. I previously used the subscriptions list like an EPG, which helped me quickly find the latest series I was enjoying (my latest obsession being Trash Theory's excellent music essays).

Now, the channels are ordered by what YouTube considers "most relevant", which is usually different from what I think is relevant – because YouTube can't (yet) read my mind. This is something you can change when watching in a browser (by going to Subscriptions > Manage > then choosing A-Z from the drop-down menu), but no longer in the many TV apps.

There are workarounds like casting from your phone to your TV instead, but I'm a TV native when it comes to YouTube – so I hope the big redesign that's en route also restores some of the functionality that was recently removed in classic Google fashion.

There is a danger that these new features will be accompanied by 'upgrades' like "pause ads", which is something YouTube has been testing while drumming its fingers together like Mr Burns. Another feature that has been promised is a "second screen experience that lets you use your phone to interact with the video you're watching on TV".

I'm realistic – Google and YouTube rarely give us new features without finding ways to simultaneously print more ad money from the one billion hours we spend watching YouTube content on TVs every day (yes, really). But as long as the TV experience finally feels as polished and user-friendly as the mobile app, I'll likely continue to spend more time on YouTube than the best streaming services.

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This week, we celebrated Earth Day with a suite of sustainability-focused pieces, saw our LG TVs morph into Xboxes, and got to experience the new Insta360 X5.

To catch up on all that and more from the world of tech, scroll down for recaps of the week's seven biggest tech news stories.

When you're done, be sure to check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (April 25).

7. We hosted Sustainability Week 2025

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Troyan)

To celebrate Earth Day this year, we've put together a suite of stories from across the tech industry to celebrate, challenge, and highlight all things sustainable.

With deep dives into sustainability champions like Fairphone, exciting details on breakthroughs in sustainable tech – like how extreme heat could be the answer to our lithium ion battery woes – and guides on how to best shop for secondhand tech, we have you covered with articles that are well worth your time if you’re keen to go green.

We’ve also published new video content on our TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channels, so make sure you're subscribed on those platforms if you want to see all of our sustainability coverage from this past week.

• Read more: Check out all of our Sustainability Week 2025 content.

6. Alexa+ early adopters told us their first thoughts

(Image credit: Amazon)

Almost two months after it was announced, Alexa+ still hasn’t appeared on our Echo Show devices. We’re getting impatient, but thankfully, a member of Amazon’s early adopter program has taken to Reddit to share their experiences with the new voice assistant while we wait.

It sounds like there are still a few quirks to be worked out (Alexa+ tries to direct users to Amazon Music when they want to play from Spotify), but overall, they were pretty impressed – particularly when it came to interpreting complex questions and synthesizing speech. "Old Alexa was hot garbage, but this new one was a pleasant surprise,” the tester concluded.

High praise indeed.

• Read more: Alexa+ early adopter gives their thoughts

5. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders went live in the US

(Image credit: Future)

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders finally went live on April 24 in the US after the unexpected delay that came during the US tariff uncertainty earlier this month. And there were mixed results with how it went, to say the least.

Away from Nintendo’s own invite-based pre-order system, three big retailers in Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, all launched their pre-orders at midnight on April 24. There was huge clamour for the product, and while some offered only the standard console and Mario Kart World bundle, others (Best Buy) crafted a whole heap of bespoke bundles.

GameStop opted for going later in the day, releasing in-store pre-orders when shops opened, and choosing to put its online stock live at 11am. However, this method was - from our learned experience, at least - a huge disappointment. The interest was so high that GameStop’s website fully stopped working for large periods of time.

Across the board, it was a familiar story in terms of a sought-after hardware launch: some folks were lucky, and some folks were not. Here’s hoping it all levels out soon enough. The UK’s Switch 2 pre-order status is now less hectic, but readily available stock remains hard to come by.

• Read more: Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live – all the latest updates in the US and UK

4. LG TVs became Xboxes

(Image credit: Xbox)

This week Microsoft continued its mission to turn everything into an Xbox, with its latest efforts transforming your LG TV into an Xbox through its cloud gaming service.

If you have a WebOS 24 or WebOS 25-compatible TV (i.e. if your LG TV launched in 2022 or after, or if it’s a 2021 StanbyME display) you can install a beta version of the XBox app. All you’ll need then is an Xbox controller and a Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Just remember that because it’s all happening in the cloud the quality of your experience will be determined by the quality of your internet connection, so if your connection isn’t the most stable your LG Xbox gaming might be a little choppy.

• Read more: LG displays can now cloud stream Game Pass games without a console

3. We got our hands on the new Motorola Razr Ultra

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The 2025 Motorola Razr family is here, including the new flagship Motorola Razr Ultra, and Motorola is tripling down on its commitment to unique CMF - color, materials, and finish. Besides the unique color options – all straight from Pantone’s color catalog – Motorola is making phones with unique materials like real wood and Italian Alcantara, and offering finish options that make the phones feel like nylon, Acetate, or faux leather.

This Razr is truly the antidote for boring phone design, and I had fun flipping through the different looks to decide which I liked best. Spoiler: it’s the Alcantara, which has a luxurious and soft feel; though it’s a toss-up between that Scarab color and the new Mountain Trail wood option.

The Razr Ultra is no slouch in the spec department either, and Motorola is finally offering flagship performance in its high-end model. Sadly, that comes with a higher price tag this year, but it could be worth the extra cost if the cameras and battery deliver on their promise.

• Read more: Hands-on with the new Moto Razr Ultra – I love that it brings back one unique phone feature I missed out on

2. Insta360’s new X5 360 camera dropped

(Image credit: Insta360)

Just over a year ago, we declared the Insta360 X4 is the best 360 camera out there – and this week got a sequel with the inventively named Insta360 X5.

This new and improved model can record 8K 360-degree at 30 frames per second or 5.7K at 60fps – like its predecessor – though with a bigger image sensor it should deliver much better low-light image quality than the X4, and should boast better dynamic range at all resolutions to make the color of your shots appear more vibrant.

You’ll also appreciate the bigger battery capacity, efficiencies, and heat dissipation that Insta360 says result in the X5 boasting a 37% longer battery life and the device running less hot – an issue we know some had with the X4 before it. This means you should be able to rely on the X5 to record more of your adventures between charges.

The Insta360 X5 Standard Version costs $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99, while the Essentials Bundle costs $659.99 / £609.99 / AU$1,109.99 and includes an extra battery, fast charge case, 114cm invisible selfie stick, standard lens guards, lens cap, and carry case.

• Read more: Insta360’s new X5 improves on the X4 where it matters most

1. Adobe gave us a new AI-powered mood board

(Image credit: Future)

One of AI’s most useful tricks is acting as a brainstorming sidekick – and Adobe has just launched a new tool that looks ideal for visual creativity sessions.

Firefly Boards (which is the new name for ‘Project Concept’) is available to try now in beta and is an infinite canvas for moodboarding where you can use both AI-generated images and your own reference photos to come up with fresh ideas. It’s built for designers, but could also level up your birthday party invitations in a big way.

There’s a free version with limited credits, and you can join the waitlist now. We can see this one being a massive (and fun) weekend timesink.

• Read more: Adobe Max London 2025 live – all the new features coming to Photoshop, Firefly, Premiere Pro and more

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