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Nespresso's new sweet vanilla decaf pods could make coffee my new favorite bedtime drink

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0000

I love coffee, but I also love my sleep, so after about 2pm I always switch to decaf to avoid being kept awake at night. It works well, but opting for decaf generally means you miss out on some of the more unusual flavors around – like the double-fermented passionfruit beans I got from my local coffee roaster recently, or Nespresso's white chocolate and strawberry coffee pods, which are an unlikely but delicious combination of flavors.

My Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) instructor calls it 'cheating coffee', but when it tastes this good, who cares?

Thankfully, just as alcohol-free beer is now mainstream and varied, we're starting to see roasters and manufacturers start to get more creative with decaf – and Nespresso's new Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods are so comforting, they might just become my new favorite bedtime drink.

The Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods work in any Neespresso Vertuo machine (Image credit: Future)

Coffee beans can have notes of vanilla by themselves, depending on the variety and the roast, and when extracted correctly (a tricky process to get right), coffee does have a natural sweetness. However, it's quite subtle, and if you want something more dessert-like, a coffee with added flavor is the way forward.

Decaffeinated coffee is made by removing the caffeine from green (unroasted ) coffee beans by dissolving it in water. There are a few different ways to achieve this, and Nespresso uses two different methods. The first involves simply soaking the beans in hot water to dissolve the caffeine (known as the Swiss water process). This process leaves behind no residue that could alter the taste and character of the coffee

The second method (the carbon dioxide process) is more efficient. Again, it involves soaking the beans in water to make them porous, but this time the soaked beans are placed in a pressurized container and exposed to CO2, which dissolves the caffeine.

Once caffeine has been extracted from the beans, it can be re-used to make high-caffeine drinks like Nespresso's energy-boosting functional coffees.

The vanilla flavor works well with barista oat milk (Image credit: Future)

After loading a pod into my Nespresso Vertuo Pop (one of the best Nespresso machines around if you need something compact) and hitting the brew button, I was left with a cup full of creamy decaf coffee with a generous layer of foam.

It's delicious by itself, and the added flavor doesn't overpower the taste of the beans, but I enjoy a milky bedtime drink and vanilla typically works well with dairy, so I was keen to see how it would hold up as a white coffee.

The Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato pods are mug-sized, meaning they'll fill a 230ml mug, but I still had room for a little caramel-flavored barista oat milk, or regular dairy milk. The flavors both combine very nicely, though regular milk would work best if you don't have a particularly sweet tooth.

Hopefully we'll see even more decaf options soon – cheating or otherwise.

China admits behind closed doors it was involved in Volt Typhoon attacks

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0000

In a December 2024 meeting, China privately took responsibility for cyber offensives
These include attacks on US infrastructure, like communications and energy
The state warned that US increasing support for Taiwan was a key factor

Amid a serious escalation of hostilities between the two nations, senior Chinese officials have apparently acknowledged behind closed doors that Beijing was involved in a series of cyberattacks on US critical infrastructure.

These attacks saw Chinese Volt Typhoon hackers infiltrate US critical infrastructure systems for years, including compromising energy, communications, transportation, and water industries.

China had previously denied any involvement in these attacks, but the Wall Street Journal now reports Beijing officials admitted involvement in an “indirect and somewhat ambiguous” way, interpreted by US officials as a “warning to the U.S. about Taiwan.”

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Escalating tensions

News about increasing reciprocal tariffs between the two nations is pretty unavoidable, but the trade war is not the only stage for offensives, with US officials reportedly considering pursuing cyber strikes against China and security experts warning that China is poised to retaliate against tariffs with a “Typhoon” attack - referring to hacking groups Salt and Volt Typhoon.

This news comes after the Trump administration has implemented mass federal layoffs, which a former NSA cybersecurity director has warned will have a “devastating impact on cybersecurity”.

These admissions are, of course, likely to be a tactical move from China to underscore its own capabilities and willingness to use them.

For example, the Salt Typhoon attack into telecoms networks is considered a “historic counterintelligence failure”, and some officials even believe the group still lurks on US networks.

Previously, the US state department had opposed Taiwanese independence, but under Trump this seems to be much more uncertain, and escalating tensions between China and the US could lead to cyber offensives on both sides.

Taiwan has a strong economy, and crucially, is home to manufacturers of semiconductors - computer chips which are essential to almost all modern technology, and are used in satellite systems, phones, laptops, and AI.

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It's alive! IBM unveils its most powerful mainframe yet, which it says is fully engineered for the AI Age

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:33:00 +0000

IBM's fastest mainframe computer to date has a Telum II CPU with on-chip AI coprocessor
There is also an AI accelerator that it hopes will make it an attractive option
The IBM z17 brings Big Blue in the age of AI but will this be enough to fend off competition?

IBM has announced the z17, a new mainframe to address growing AI demands on enterprise infrastructure.

Positioned as a foundation for hybrid cloud environments, and with support for real-time AI and enterprise-grade resilience, the IBM z17 is designed to handle transaction-heavy workloads, improve operational efficiency, and address security concerns in industries with stringent compliance needs.

Central to the new mainframe is the Telum II processor, which was originally announced at Hot Chips 2024. Developed using Samsung 5nm technology, it integrates an on-chip AI coprocessor to support inferencing tasks, including small language models with fewer than 8 billion parameters.

Big on security

Alongside the processor, Big Blue plans to offer the Spyre Accelerator card (also originally previewed at Hot Chips) to complement the Telum II and extend the AI compute capabilities for unstructured data processing such as text-based generative AI.

The z17 can accommodate up to 48 of these accelerator cards, allowing scalability across enterprise workloads. It is expected to be available 4Q 2025 via PCIe card.

Security is a big focus for the IBM z17 and includes AI-powered features such as Sensitive Data Tagging for z/OS and IBM Threat Detection for z/OS, both of which use natural language processing to identify and protect sensitive data or scan for potential threats.

In addition, it supports NIST-standardized quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms to address future regulatory requirements.

The z17 system also incorporates a new data processing unit to accelerate I/O protocols for networking and storage.

IBM says it expects application developers to benefit from AI-driven assistants that can automate tasks across the software development lifecycle, improving productivity and reducing skill transition issues in mainframe environments.

Transactional AI use cases such as fraud detection, money laundering prevention, and anomaly detection can now be deployed closer to the data source, IBM says, with support for multimodel inference to improve accuracy and reduce false positives.

"The industry is quickly learning that AI will only be as valuable as the infrastructure it runs on," said Ross Mauri, general manager of IBM Z and LinuxONE, IBM.

"With z17, we're bringing AI to the core of the enterprise with the software, processing power, and storage to make AI operational quickly. Additionally, organizations can put their vast, untapped stores of enterprise data to work with AI in a secured, cost-effective way."

Available in configurations that support up to 208 processors and 64TB of memory, the z17, which is the culmination of five years of design and development, is designed to operate at 5.5GHz and comes housed in up to four frames. While aimed at critical workloads, IBM is also positioning it as part of a larger hybrid cloud strategy.

IBM also took the wraps off z/OS 3.2, the next version of its flagship operating system for IBM Z systems. This is planned for release in the third quarter of 2025.

Fujifilm's quirky new compact just leaked – and it could be 2025's most fun camera

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:15:21 +0000

New leaks have given us our first glimpse of the Fujifilm 'X-Half'
The half-frame compact camera would be a first for Fujifilm
It'll seemingly combine digital half-frame shots with a retro design

Fujifilm has never exactly followed the herd, but even by its standards the company's next compact camera will be an eccentric one – if new rumors about the so-called 'X-Half' are to be believed.

Fuji Rumors recently shared what it claims is the first leaked image of the camera, and has now followed that up with new post that gives it a name. The X-Half, it seems, will be a compact camera with 1-inch sensor that rivals the many half-frame cameras that have become popular among young snappers in recent years.

What is half-frame? As the Pentax 17 and Kodak Ektar H35 show, the format –traditionally found on 35mm film cameras – sees shots taken in vertical format, effectively giving you twice as many photos from a roll a film. The X-Half's twist, according to rumors, is that it'll be digital and, potentially, a bit more desirable than those two cameras.

Meet the Fujifilm X-Half – Fujifilm’s Upcoming Digital Half Frame Camerahttps://t.co/5Bpynjtpy9 pic.twitter.com/viEj6jIThIApril 11, 2025

Another reason why half-frame cameras are popular is because they easily let you create 'diptych' images, or two side-by-side frames. This lets you juxtapose two different angles on the same subject, which is a very social media-friendly trick. To help you compose these shots, Fuji Rumors claims the X-Half will have a vertical LCD on its rear panel.

Like Fujifilm's other big hits – notably the Fujifilm X100VI – the X-Half will also seemingly again blend digital convenience with film-like charm. The leaked specs include an optical viewfinder (which should keep the price down, compared to an EVF), a retro, Leica-like design, and a few manual controls including an exposure compensation dial. It'll also apparently have a fixed lens with an f/2.4 aperture.

There's unfortunately no rumored released date for the X-Half yet. But with speculation on the rise, it seems possible that Fujifilm could launch it in time for the summer seasons in the US and UK – assuming tariff-related complications don't derail it.

Analysis: A fun idea, if not for the hardcore Fuji faithful

The recent Fujifilm GFX100RF (above) sits somewhere towards the opposite end of the scale to the rumored X-Half (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

With many Fujifilm fans patiently waiting for more 'serious' cameras, like an X-Pro 4, these X-Half rumors probably aren't what many have been waiting for – but I'm happy to see something new on the horizon.

While the idea of a digital half-frame camera seems odd on paper – after all, you don't need to worry about saving film costs with digital – the X-Half could definitely find an audience among those who want a retro sidekick that's different from their smartphones, but easier to use than the best film cameras.

In that sense, it'll likely have more in common with Fujifilm's Instax series than pricier pro models like the GFX100RF. If it is Fujifilm's next launch, you could see it as the perfect flip-side to the latter, which is a medium format powerhouse that costs $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799. The X-Half could, instead, be a compact that caters to a new, younger audience who want something with a bit more substance than an Instax.

That may leave Fuji fans who sit in between those two extremes feeling a little unloved, but a Fujifilm X-E5 is still rumored to be en route in 2025. For now, it seems Fujifilm is doing what originally brought it such big success in the early days of mirrorless cameras – hopping on new photographic trends with its own unique twist.

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Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:00:18 +0000

Samsung's new Bespoke Jet AI Lite might be the perfect upgrade to my classic Bespoke Jet vacuum, if the price is right

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Samsung has announced yet another Bespoke Jet vacuum cleaner
The Bespoke Jet AI Lite aims to trickle down features into a more affordable package
It'll begin to launch in April, but we're waiting on confirmed regions and the price

Yes, Samsung only launched its flagship Bespoke Jet AI Ultra vacuum with excellent suction just a few weeks back in late March 2025. And now, hot off the heels of that model, Samsung’s just unveiled the Bespoke Jet AI Lite, scheduled to launch this month. As the name suggests, it should be more affordable and an entry-level option compared to the AI Ultra.

Samsung’s also built it to be considerably lighter. In handheld mode, it weighs 1.45kg, which is 23% lighter than the previous-gen Bespoke Jet AI, and considerably lighter than the new AI Ultra model as well. In the shared release, Samsung pitches it as a convertible model that's great for use as a standard stick vacuum but also perfect for reaching tougher spots, both high and low, in handheld mode.

(Image credit: Samsung)

It is still set to be pretty feature-filled, though, with the ‘all-in-one clean station', which will act as a home for the Bespoke Jet, included in the box. The vacuum cleaner will set on top and recharge, so it’s always ready for a run, and it will self-empty into a bag hidden in the base. This way, you won’t need to manually empty the onboard dust bin.

With AI in the name, Samsung is also including some – but not all – of its AI tech into what we assume will be a cheaper stick vacuum cleaner with a docking station.

The Bespoke Jet AI Lite leads with AI Cleaning Mode 2.0, which lets the floorhead sense the surface it’s on to adjust the suction power and roller speed. For instance, for an easy-to-clean hard floor, the vacuum will lower the suction to stretch the battery life.

We’ll be interested in testing the AI features here on the Lite model, but in our review of the Bespoke Jet AI Ultra, we found them a little unreliable even if the vacuum overall delivered excellent cleaning performance.

An older generation of the Samsung Bespoke Jet line (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

That vacuum offers 400W of suction power, while the Bespoke Jet AI Lite tops out at 280W from a proprietary HexaJet motor. Yes, there is a significant cutback in overall power, but it's still extremely sucky – matching the suction offered by the Gen5detect currently sitting at the top of Dyson's range. The lower spec should also equate to a more affordable price than the eye-watering $1,099.99 / £1,199.99 / AU$1,699 tag on the AI Ultra.

On paper, the Bespoke Jet AI Lite seems to be trickling down some of the main-stay features, and as someone with a classic Bespoke Jet, this one is piquing my interest if the price turns out to be right … and if it launches in the United States.

I already like the design, easy control, and the original's auto-emptying, recharging docking station, so this upgrade to a better motor and some fancier features could be worth it.

Samsung only says that the Bespoke Jet AI Lite will launch in April 2025 but stops short of confirming pricing and the countries where it will be available. We’ve reached out to Samsung for more information on pricing and availability by region. For now, we know that it's not planned to launch in the UK until around June. If you can't wait or aren't not quite sold on this model, check out our top-rated alternatives in our roundup of the best cordless vacuums of 2025.

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Garmin has just crossed a powerful bike light with a 4K dash cam – and as a cyclist, I’m all in

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Garmin has announced a bike light that doubles as a 4K safety camera
That means it's effectively a cycling dash cam with a 600-lumen light
The Varia Vue is available now for $549 / £459 (around AU$965)

Garmin has just revealed a powerful new gadget for cyclists who want to invest in their road safety – a cross between a powerful 600-lumen front light and a 4K safety camera, which means it can double as a cycling dash cam.

The new Varia Vue is effectively the flip-side of Garmin's rear tail light and radar (called the Varia RCT715), which it can also sync with. This model is much more powerful, though, being much brighter thanks to its 600-lumen output. It also packs a 4K front-facing camera (rather than 1080p), which can automatically save videos if it detects an incident – just like the best dash cams.

It's one of those products that it feels like Garmin should have made years ago. Whether you cycle in busy, well-lit urban areas or on country roads – or, like me, a bit of both – a powerful front light and a camera are essential cycling accessories, so it's good to see them combined one nicely designed, albeit expensive bundle.

Garmin says the built-in camera has electronic image stabilization to help you make out license plates even on pot-holed roads, although this does come at the expense of a crop. We'll have to see how well that stabilization compares to the best action cameras like the GoPro Hero 13 Black.

While Garmin has experience with action cams with its now-discontinued Virb series, I'm not expecting the Varie Vue to match GoPro and DJI for image quality. Even so, it needs to reach a certain level to make it a viable cycling dash cam, as capturing small details can be important. To help capture those incidents in full, it also has a concealed microphone for audio.

(Image credit: Garmin)

The only potential downside of combining these two gadgets is battery life, but Garmin's claimed specs suggest it's workable. It says the Varia Vue will last "up to seven hours" in day flash mode with the camera recording (although this drops to just over an hour on full brightness) and or "up to nine hours" when the headlight is turned off, and you shoot in 1080p. If you're planning a long ride, the camera can also be used while charging.

Your video clips are stored on a microSD card (which isn't included), and you can also save footage automatically to the cloud via Wi-Fi using Garmin Vault.

The downside? There's inevitably a subscription for using Vault, and it's a pretty pricey at $99 / £99 a year.

Still, the overall concept is a good one, and as a London-based cyclist, I like the idea of neatly combining a light and cycling dash cam in one relatively small unit. The Varia Vue is available to buy now for $549 / £459 (around AU$965).

Safety comes with a hefty price tag

In many ways, bike tech still feels a little behind the times, which is why I still combine a fairly dated Lezyne front light (which still has a micro USB charging port) with an old GoPro if I'm heading out on a long-ish ride on the roads.

But it seems there's finally a little more competition in the smart bike light space, with Garmin's Varia Vue arriving to take on the more established Cycliq Fly12 Sport (which combines a 4K camera with a 400-lumen light for a more affordable $319 / £299 / AU$449). Wahoo also recently announced the new Trackr Radar, a rear taillight with radar tech like Garmin's Varia RCT715.

None of these are exactly cheap, and there is an argument that you're better off going with two separate devices if you don't need a camera for every ride. While nice in theory, Varia Vue's cloud storage component could also prove to be an excessively expensive extra if you don't often use it.

Still, it's good to see some long-awaited innovation in bike safety tech, and the increased competition should hopefully mean some more affordable options follow in Varia Vue's slipstream – depending on tariffs, of course.

Mark Zuckerberg allegedly offered US data to China in bid to enter market, ex-Meta exec tells Senate

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spoke in front of the US Senate
She said Facebook offered data on US citizens to the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for being allowed to operate in the country
Facebook has denied all claims

A former Meta executive recently spoke in front of the US Congress, accusing Facebook and its CEO of allegedly offering sensitive data on American citizens to the Chinese government, in exchange for being allowed to operate in the country.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spoke in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism.

During the hearing, she alleged that for her former employer, there was “no bridge too far” to get into the Chinese market, and that it would do anything to get access to 1.4 billion people living there, including offering data on Americans to the Chinese Communist Party.

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AI and censorship

“The only reason China does not currently have access to US user data through this pipeline is because Congress stepped in,” she was cited saying.

The company slammed her testimony, calling it “divorced from reality and riddled with false claims,” according to a Meta spokesperson.

“While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: We do not operate our services in China today,” the spokesperson added.

Wynn-Williams did not stop there, either. She also alleged that Meta contributed to China’s advancements in artificial intelligence, since its Llama AI models were “openly available” in the country.

There were even mentions of military applications of AI. Finally, she also alleged that Meta collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party in developing censorship tools, and then lied about it in the public.

Some senators commended Wynn-Williams’ testimony, and the fact that the filed whistleblower complaints with the SEC and the US Department of Justice after leaving the social media business.

They commented that Facebook was afraid of the truth coming out and that they would stop at nothing to prevent Wynn-Williams from testifying.

Via The Register

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MSI has apparently leaked new its Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti third-party GPUs, and I’m worried these budget GPUs will come with a ‘new motherboard’ tax

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:35:41 +0000

Nvidia's new RTX 5060 Ti GPU is almost here as MSI's third-party models have been leaked in new images
The images reveal the GPU's PCIe 5.0 interface along with 16-pin or 8-pin power connectors
PCIe 4.0 motherboard users may need to upgrade to get the best out of the new GPU

Nvidia has yet to complete the full launch of its RTX 5000 series GPU lineup, as it still has some low-end cards in the pipeline. Fortunately, a new leak has given us a first look at third-party models of an unannounced Blackwell GPU. Spoiler alert: you might want to upgrade your motherboard.

Thanks to VideoCardz, MSI's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards have leaked with new images showcasing four different models, and each of them uses either 16-pin or 8-pin connectors. More importantly, all of these GPUs will use PCIe 5.0, as the leaked images (which I won't post here) indicate.

While higher-end RTX 5000 series GPUs can provide great performance results for users on non-PCIe 5.0 motherboards, it might not be the same story for lower-end cards like the upcoming RTX 5060 Ti.

Since low-end GPUs don't have the same processing power as what you'd get with an RTX 5080, for example, aspects like VRAM capacity and PCIe bandwidth speeds have a bigger impact on performance.

If the RTX 5060 Ti is indeed PCIe 5.0 x8, it's more than likely going to hinder performance for gamers still using PCIe 4.0 (or older) motherboards, as the GPU won't be used to its full potential when it may desperately need it - especially for the rumored 8GB VRAM models.

In this case, you have to wonder whether buying a new budget GPU and possibly having to upgrade to a PCIe 5.0 motherboard (if you don't already have one) is worth the cost: instead, it may be a better choice to purchase an older high-end GPU - if one can be found at launch price, anyway.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

Is budget PC gaming gradually becoming non-existent?

Let me get one thing straight: this isn't me having a go at Nvidia or any other GPU manufacturer making the jump to the PCIe 5.0 interface. It's rather an observation of how bad the GPU market is in terms of consumers finding GPUs at their launch prices, and the high likelihood of having to mandatorily upgrade your motherboard or other components to get the best out of your new graphics card.

For those using PCIe 4.0 motherboards, the RTX 3000 and 4000 series GPUs are ideal, as they are all PCIe 4.0 cards. While the new PCIe 5.0 cards can still be used on other motherboards, you will definitely feel the performance loss, particularly with weaker hardware as its capabilities would be cut in half by bandwidth limitations.

It's also easy for me to suggest buying an older high-end GPU, but you'd either struggle to find it in stock anywhere due to discontinuations, or end up overpaying (just look at XFX's Radeon RX 7900 XTX for example).

So it begs the question: is 'budget' PC gaming becoming non-existent? Inflation, scalpers, low availability, and tariffs are all active, making what is supposed to be budget hardware more expensive. When you tie that in with an entire PC build, it's no longer 'budget'.

Aside from handheld gaming PCs or laptops, PC gaming is currently an expensive hobby, and I'm hoping things can change sooner for the better...

WhatsApp has just dropped these 9 new features – including 2 that I'm not happy about

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:30:09 +0000

WhatsApp has just rolled out a plethora of new features and functions for chats and calls
This includes zoom for video calls, scanning and sending documents directly from WhatsApp, and a new way to prioritize group chat notifications
Out of all the new additions however, there are two that haven't sat right with users

The aftermath of Apple’s latest iOS 18.4 update is still lingering, and we’re all coming to grips with its roster of new features. With that said, WhatsApp has also just dropped its own big update, announcing brand new additions to its existing call, chats, and channels sections.

Now I say ‘big update’, but that’s a bit of an understatement as WhatsApp’s list of new upgrades is extensive, and includes minor new features such as smoother video call quality, and voice message transcripts on Channels. However there are nine stand-out features we think are interesting additions to the messaging platform, but two of them have rubbed us the wrong way.

A plethora of new functions

First of all, despite how small-scale some of the new features are, there’s a handful that could make a significant impact on your WhatsApp experience, starting with its simple pinch-to-zoom feature in video calls.

It’s taken WhatsApp a considerable amount of time to catch up to the likes of FaceTime where users have been able to zoom for a while, but regardless of the delay on WhatsApp’s part, this is a benefit I know frequent video call users like myself will reap. In addition to this new call feature, WhatsApp now allows you to add someone to an ongoing 1:1 call right from a chat thread.

Calls aside, WhatsApp has brought even more functions to its chat section. If you’re an iPhone user that gravitates towards WhatsApp as opposed to using its flagship iMessage service, there’s now a way for you to set WhatsApp as your default, provided you’ve installed the latest version of iOS. All you have to do is go to your iPhone Settings, select Default Apps, and choose WhatsApp.

(Image credit: Future)

It doesn’t stop there. WhatsApp is doubling down on its integration with your daily and personal life, introducing new events updates in 1:1 chats as well as groups, as well as a new feature that allows you to scan and send documents directly from WhatsApp on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

The last two helpful features that could benefit WhatsApp users include video notes (like voice notes) for channels, allowing admins to instantly record and share videos up to 60 seconds. Finally, you can highlight notifications in groups, giving you an easier way to prioritize your group chat notifications.

Overall, the new additions to WhatsApp pack a lot of value, even though some may have a slightly less impact than others. But of course, there are two other functions that WhatsApp has added that haven’t quite sat well with users – one which made quite a bad impression this week.

Meta AI is interfering once again

If you’ve been out of the loop, WhatsApp introduced a new Meta AI button in EU regions that you can’t remove from the app’s UI – leading to an uproar of angry WhatsApp users.

Essentially an AI chatbot feature, Meta’s new button in WhatsApp is a place for users to go to for a number of functions like answering questions or generating content. But the function itself isn’t necessarily what users are mad about, and it’s more to do with the fact they’ve not been given the option to remove it.

Quietly introduced in WhatsApp’s recent wave of new functions, there’s now a way of seeing who in your group chats are online, thanks to a new function that shows you the real-time status of each member in a group chat. This is obviously less of a headache compared to the untouchable Meta button, but it means that there's a lot more pressure to be swift in your replies.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a punctual text-replier, but we all have those days where we just don't have the energy to deal with our group chats – especially when plan-making goes horribly wrong, or you just don't want to reply to particular person. This new feature makes it easier for your friends and family to call you out, and WhatsApp knows exactly what it's doing.

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Oracle says "obsolete servers" hacked, denies cloud breach

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Oracle started sending out data breach notification letters
In the letters, it downplays the significance of the attacks
Not everyone agrees with that assessment

We now have confirmation that Oracle started notifying its customers about a recent data breach. Apparently, the company stood its ground that it was an irrelevant attack that will make no difference whatsoever.

In early April 2025, a threat actor with the alias “rose87168” opened a new thread on an underground forum to advertise the sale of a database stolen from the company. The database allegedly contained six million records, including private security keys, encrypted credentials, and LDAP entries, all belonging to Oracle customers.

To confirm the authenticity of the information, the hacker even uploaded a new document to the cloud, containing their own email address.

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Oracle denies severity

Oracle first denied, and later confirmed the breach, but said it was a pointless attack since the servers were old and unused, and the data contained within was outdated.

Now, BleepingComputer reports that email notification letters started going out: "Oracle would like to state unequivocally that the Oracle Cloud—also known as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure or OCI—has NOT experienced a security breach," the letter allegedly reads.

"No OCI customer environment has been penetrated. No OCI customer data has been viewed or stolen. No OCI service has been interrupted or compromised in any way," it added in emails sent from replies@oracle-mail.com, prompting customers to contact Oracle Support or their account manager if they have additional questions.

"A hacker did access and publish user names from two obsolete servers that were never a part of OCI. The hacker did not expose usable passwords because the passwords on those two servers were either encrypted and/or hashed. Therefore the hacker was not able to access any customer environments or customer data."

A report from The Register claims the data belonging to one of the victims was created in 2024. The investigation is currently ongoing but so far it seems that the attacker exploited a vulnerability in Oracle Access Manager to breach Oracle-hosted servers.

Cybersecurity experts CrowdStrike are currently analyzing the incident. The FBI was also notified about the attack, Oracle has confirmed.

Via BleepingComputer

Oracle quietly confirms public cloud data breach, customer data stolen
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OnePlus Watch 3 gets surprise price hike in the US – and you can already guess why

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:55:09 +0000

The OnePlus Watch 3 now costs $499.99 in the US
It was originally set to cost just $329.99
The 'Meda in China' watch is likely just the first of many tech price hikes

While the US government’s stance on import tariffs has softened for many regions (at least at the time of writing) it’s still full steam ahead with major import duty being imposed on China-made goods. Which is perhaps why the new OnePlus Watch 3 costs $499.99 – $170 more than the $329.99 price tag that had previously been revealed for the smart watch.

OnePlus has yet to confirm if the price hike is tariff-related, but we do know that goods coming from China to the US are currently facing a 145% tariff. That amount has only been increasing, as China and the US seem locked into a trade war neither wants to back down from.

We know it’s made in China after a now-infamous typo on its back, which declared the smart watch is “Meda in China.” This actually caused the watch’s full release to be delayed until now – perhaps inadvertently leading to this price hike as in that time major new tariffs were introduced.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, while the device has had a price hike in the US, in other countries that’s not the case. For example in the UK store it still costs just £319.99, suggesting that this cost increase is indeed a US tariff issue.

A sign of what’s to come

Unless the US Government’s stance on tariffs changes sometime soon, you can expect prices to go up for your other favorite gadgets. While smaller import duties could maybe have been eaten up by brands looking to stay competitive in the US market, 154% hikes are impossible to ignore and they will be passed to consumers.

You simply can’t keep prices the same if products that previously cost, say, $100 to manufacture in China now at a minimum have to be sold in the US for $254 – and that's before you account for any kind of profit margin.

It’ll be especially frustrating for people looking to pick up more budget-friendly tech like the OnePlus Watch 3. You'll feel the squeeze of tech costing a few hundred bucks extra more than folks who were already happy to splash a lot of cash on high-end gadgets.

(Image credit: Future / Cas Kulk)

I wish we could offer some sound advice on what you should do to try and fend off price hikes, but apart from rushing to buy before you start to feel their sting, or hoping they go away again, there’s not a lot you can do. And it doesn’t help that the US government’s stance on tariffs seems to change every day – making predictions of what’ll happen next near-impossible.

Our best advice is for you to be prepared to make your existing tech last longer – or to buy secondhand or refurbished tech that won’t be subject to import duty because it’s already in the US. Because for the foreseeable future new tech is going to feel even more like a luxury than it did before.

Mastering SaaS contract management: Five key strategies for IT leaders

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:21:40 +0000

In today’s fast-paced business world, organizations rely heavily on SaaS (Software as a Service) applications to drive efficiency, reduce costs and foster innovation. However, with this growing dependence on software comes the complex task of effectively managing SaaS contracts. Without robust contract management practices, organizations risk inefficiencies, hidden costs, non-compliance and missed opportunities to optimize their software spend.

For IT leaders, mastering SaaS contract management is a strategic necessity. Giulio D’Ali, Senior Vice President of SaaS Management from Technology and SaaS management solutions provider Calero shares five strategies to streamline SaaS contract management, reduce risks and enhance financial control.

1. Centralize SaaS contract management for greater visibility

One of the key challenges in SaaS management is the decentralization of contracts across various departments. Without a single view of all contracts, it becomes increasingly difficult to track renewal dates, service level agreements (SLAs) and vendor performance. This lack of oversight can lead to costly mistakes, such as missing renewal deadlines or overpaying for unused licenses.

Centralizing SaaS contract management through a dedicated platform helps organizations consolidate all contract data into one system. This centralized system provides comprehensive visibility into contract terms, pricing, renewal dates and vendor performance. For IT leaders, having this centralized view is crucial for aligning software expenditures with business goals. By understanding how each contract supports or hinders organizational objectives, you can make more informed decisions, mitigate compliance risks and negotiate better terms with vendors.

2. Automate renewals to avoid unnecessary costs and downtime

Managing renewals is one of the most time-consuming and error-prone aspects of SaaS contract management. Without automation, it’s easy for IT teams to miss renewal deadlines or to renew contracts without fully assessing the vendor’s performance. These oversights can lead to unexpected costs, service interruptions, or worse - being locked into unfavorable terms without the chance to renegotiate.

Automating the renewal process is one of the most effective ways to streamline SaaS contract management. By setting up automated reminders and alerts for upcoming renewals, organizations can ensure that they never miss a critical deadline. In addition to avoiding auto-renewals at high rates, automated renewals provide an opportunity for IT teams to assess the software’s value. This proactive approach allows businesses to negotiate better terms, eliminate underutilized licenses and reallocate resources to more strategic areas, ultimately maximizing ROI from SaaS investments.

3. Integrate SaaS management with procurement for seamless workflow

While SaaS management typically falls under the IT department, its impact stretches far beyond IT, touching procurement, finance and other areas of the business. The key to efficient SaaS contract management lies in ensuring that all departments are aligned and working off the same set of data.

Integrating SaaS management with procurement workflows allows organizations to align software purchasing with broader financial and operational strategies. This integration makes it easier for procurement teams to compare vendor offerings, track spending and ensure that purchasing decisions adhere to corporate policies. By automating and streamlining the contract management process, procurement and IT teams can work collaboratively to negotiate better deals, identify cost-saving opportunities and prevent unnecessary spending on duplicate or unused software subscriptions.

For IT leaders, this collaboration with procurement not only improves financial oversight but also reduces the risk of SaaS sprawl - where software subscriptions proliferate without oversight - leading to wasted resources and unnecessary complexity.

4. Ensure compliance and mitigate risk with proactive monitoring

As SaaS applications continue to play a critical role in business operations, compliance with industry regulations and internal policies is non-negotiable. Whether it’s adhering to data privacy laws like GDPR or ensuring that SaaS vendors meet specific security standards, managing compliance manually is no longer feasible.

SaaS management platforms equipped with compliance tracking capabilities allow IT leaders to monitor vendor performance against established security protocols and compliance frameworks. With real-time alerts and automated audits, organizations can proactively manage risks and ensure that vendors are meeting their contractual obligations. By integrating compliance monitoring directly into the contract management process, businesses can reduce the likelihood of regulatory violations, data breaches, or costly fines.

Furthermore, SaaS management platforms can help IT teams keep track of data protection and security certifications, providing peace of mind that all vendors are compliant with the necessary standards and minimizing potential risks to the business.

5. Gain financial control and improve forecasting accuracy

Managing SaaS contracts isn’t just about monitoring performance and compliance, it’s also about gaining financial control. With so many subscription-based services, it’s easy for costs to spiral out of control, especially if there’s a lack of visibility into overall usage and spending.

Streamlining SaaS contract management provides organizations with granular financial insights, enabling IT teams and CFOs to better forecast costs, optimize spending and eliminate waste. By consolidating all contract data, including license usage, spend history and renewal terms, businesses can gain a clearer picture of their software investments. This visibility allows for more accurate financial planning and better control over SaaS-related expenses.

Additionally, with better insights into software usage, organizations can prevent SaaS sprawl by identifying and eliminating underused or redundant subscriptions. This level of financial oversight helps organizations avoid unnecessary costs and keep SaaS expenses aligned with actual demand, improving overall budget predictability.

In an age of digital evolution, SaaS contract management is no longer a back-office task. For CIOs, CTOs, SAMs and other IT leaders, it’s a strategic lever for optimizing software investments, ensuring compliance and driving cost efficiency. By centralizing contract data, automating renewals, fostering collaboration between IT and procurement and utilizing compliance and financial insights, organizations can unlock the full value of their SaaS applications while avoiding the risks associated with poor contract management.

By adopting these five best practices, businesses can streamline their SaaS contract management process and stay agile, competitive and financially efficient in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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Why businesses must prepare for a post-quantum future

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:08:36 +0000

The quantum revolution is no longer a distant dream; it is an approaching reality. With Amazon and Microsoft recently solidifying their positions in the quantum race, the conversation around quantum computing is moving from theoretical to practical. While we are still several years away from "Q Day" – the moment when quantum computers break today’s encryption standards – the leap from niche research to mainstream awareness can happen in an instant. If generative AI tools like ChatGPT are any indication, when quantum computing truly takes off, it will do so at an unprecedented speed.

For businesses, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in leveraging quantum computing for unprecedented computational power, problem-solving, and innovation. The challenge, however, is that quantum computing will render current cryptographic protections obsolete, posing significant cybersecurity risks. Organizations that fail to prepare for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) could find themselves vulnerable in a post-quantum world.

Investing in innovation: A national and industry-wide commitment

Encouragingly, governments and businesses alike are acknowledging the potential and risks of quantum computing. The UK government has pledged £2.5 billion over the next decade to support quantum research and development, reinforcing the importance of staying ahead in this field. This investment has spurred businesses across the technology sector to accelerate their own quantum readiness plans, adopting new standards and preparing for a post-quantum future.

However, this is not a concern exclusive to the tech giants that have been investing in quantum computing for years. While companies like Google, IBM, and Apple have led the charge, smaller businesses must now prioritize quantum preparedness as well. Apple’s recent introduction of PQ3, a post-quantum cryptographic protocol for secure messaging, highlights how quantum security is becoming an industry-wide focus.

The underdogs must prepare: no company is immune

For smaller organizations, the transition to a quantum-secure future can feel overwhelming. Unlike major tech firms with dedicated research teams and vast budgets, smaller enterprises may struggle to dedicate resources to quantum readiness. Yet, these companies cannot afford to delay preparations.

Quantum computing threatens not just national security or financial institutions but any business that relies on cryptography – which is to say, nearly every company operating in a digital world. Sensitive customer data, financial transactions, intellectual property, and corporate communications all depend on encryption. If that encryption is suddenly compromised, the consequences could be catastrophic.

This is why businesses of all sizes must take stock of their vulnerabilities today. Assessing cryptographic dependencies, mapping out which systems rely on outdated encryption, and planning for a transition to PQC should be on every company’s roadmap. Cybersecurity leaders must work alongside technology providers to identify the best path towards quantum resilience before it becomes an urgent necessity.

The road to "Q day": A five-year countdown

While we may be at least five years away from "Q Day”, the timeline for quantum computing’s impact on security could accelerate unexpectedly. As advancements in quantum research continue, the ability to break conventional encryption algorithms could arrive sooner than anticipated. Organizations that set out a comprehensive quantum strategy today will be best positioned to weather the transition when the time comes.

Already, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued guidance on preparing for PQC, emphasizing that companies must act now rather than later. The shift to PQC won’t be as simple as flipping a switch; it requires careful planning, testing, and industry-wide coordination.

Businesses that embrace the transition early will have a competitive advantage, securing their data and maintaining customer trust while others scramble to catch up. Meanwhile, those that delay could find themselves facing increased regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage when quantum threats become a reality.

A call to action: prepare now, stay secure later

The era of quantum computing is coming faster than many realize, and its impact on cybersecurity will be profound. As we saw with AI, technological advancements can transition from the lab to everyday use at lightning speed. Companies that recognize the urgency of post-quantum cybersecurity today will be best equipped to navigate the future.

Governments and large corporations have already begun laying the groundwork, but this is not just an issue for the biggest players. Businesses of all sizes must take the quantum threat seriously and begin their transition towards quantum-secure encryption now. The call to action is clear: invest in post-quantum cryptography, assess security vulnerabilities, and develop a strategy for the quantum age. Waiting until "Q Day" arrives is not an option – because by then, it will be too late.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors: every rumored and predicted shade

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:22:34 +0000

So far there haven’t been many Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors leaks, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have an idea of what to expect, as Samsung tends to return to certain shades time and again.

Below then, you’ll find the colors we’ve so far heard rumored for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, along with some others that we think are likely to be offered.

Make sure to check back soon too, as we’ll be sure to update this article any time we hear anything new about Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors.

Black

A leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / Android Headlines)

The one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 color leak we’ve seen so far takes the form of renders shared by Android Headlines, that show the phone in black.

It’s unclear whether this is actually a shade the publication has heard will be offered, or just one it chose to use for the renders, but either way, we’d say some form of black is very likely, as every single Z Fold model so far has been sold in a black shade.

The exact shade of black differs, but some version of black will almost certainly be offered for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

White

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in White (Image credit: Samsung)

White is another shade we expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to be sold in, as while no leaks yet point to a white option, the last few models have come in either white or a white-adjacent shade, be that beige or cream.

On top of which, white is simply a very popular and common smartphone shade, so while we’re less confident of this than black, we’d think there’s a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be sold in a white or off-white shade.

Silver / gray

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Silver Shadow (Image credit: Samsung)

As with white, silver and gray are both popular smartphone shades – particularly silver, so while neither have been mentioned for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 yet there’s a good chance one of them will be offered.

We’re lumping them together here because they’re somewhat similar, and they’re both shades that Samsung has often sold Z Fold models in – including ‘Silver Shadow’ for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, a shade that’s basically a cross between silver and gray.

And because they’re so similar, it’s probably unlikely that Samsung will offer both a silver and a gray shade.

Blue

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Navy (Image credit: Samsung)

Blue is a shade we’re less confident in than any of the colors above, simply because it’s a bit more unusual to see phones in blue. And as with everything except black, we also haven’t seen any rumors pointing to a blue Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 yet.

But Samsung does seem to have a thing for blue, particularly in its Z Fold series. Last year there was navy blue, and the year before that there were actually two different blue shades.

So, while we wouldn’t be at all surprised if there isn’t a blue option for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, we’d say there are reasonable odds that there will be.

A mystery shade

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Future)

In recent years, Samsung’s numbered Galaxy Z Fold phones have been sold in five different shades, but as the numerically accomplished of you will no doubt have noticed, we’ve only mentioned four above. So even if all of those shades do make an appearance (and that’s a big ‘if'), we’d expect to see at least one more too.

What that will be though is anyone’s guess right now, but we’ll update this article once we have a clearer idea.

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Marvel Rivals season 2 coverage: new season out now, all the latest on Emma Frost, and my reaction to new features

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:31:57 +0000

Marvel Rivals Season 2 is now live. As such, players can now try out Emma Frost who's a new Vanguard, and try out the brand new Krakoa-set Domination map. I've covered the launch of Season 2 below, digging into its new features and Team Ups now that it's online.

Marvel Rivals S2 - key info

Start date and time
Emma Frost info
Patch notes
Skins
Ranked changes
Jump to coverage of Season 2 as it happened

Over the last week or so, Developer NetEase has lifted the lid on the next season of Marvel Rivals. There's been a lot to digest, especially when looking into the changes to Competitive Mode. As an avid Marvel Rivals player, and one that's looking to main a new character in Season 2, I've been digging into the full patch notes, trying to predict who will rise above the rest in the coming weeks and months. It's regular changes to the game's meta that have kept Marvel Rivals ranked highly in our best PC games list, and make me particularly excited to see how Season 2 unfolds over time.

If things go well post-launch, we could be looking at the best Marvel Rivals season yet, especially as far as ranked play is concerned. After sinking over a hundred hours into Marvel Rivals since the start of the first season, I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into some new maps, and trying out some DPS Heroes, as I've tended to favor Vanguard up to this point. Still, it's already evident that I won't be abandoning my tank duties completely, as I've been trying out Emma Frost in Quick Match for my first few games.

Join me as I keep you up to date with all of the latest news and happenings now that Season 2 is out. I'll be providing live coverage that highlights the best details I've found in the new Battle Pass, as well as some predictions for where Marvel Rivals could be headed with its ongoing focus on new Heroes and its new mutant-themed narrative. Here's what you need to know about Marvel Rivals Season 2, now that it's available for all players worldwide.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 - cut to the chase

Only have time for the basics? Here are the most important things to know about Marvel Rivals Season 2:

Start time: Out now
New Hero: Emma Frost (Vanguard)
New map: Hellfire Gala - Krakoa
Map Rotation: Hellfire Gala: Krakoa will enter the Competitive pool, while Yggsgard: Royal Palace and Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya will be retired from ranked play.
New Battle Pass
Season event: Cerebro Database
Mission system revamp
Rank Reset: All players demoted 9 divisions
New Rank Rewards

Marvel Rivals Season 2 start time

Marvel Rivals Season 2's start time was April 11 at 4AM PDT / 7AM / 12PM BST / 1PM CET / 8PM JST.

Marvel Rivals Emma Frost

The headline for Marvel Rivals Season 2 is that Emma Frost is joining as a new Hero. She's a Vanguard with telekinetic abilities and diamond skin. From the developer breakdown (which you can view above), she certainly looks formidable, with an Ultimate that causes enemies to walk towards her. This is great for environmental kills as opponents walk straight off of edges and into pits. Emma Frost launched alongside the new season, so players will be able to try her out now.

Marvel Rivals patch notes for Season 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

For those looking to dive deep on everything that's been added to Marvel Rivals in Season 2, you're in luck! NetEase has release the full patch notes for the Season 2 update, which includes some detailed information on the buffs and nerfs to certain Heroes. You can read them here.

Marvel Rivals skins for Season 2

Now that NetEase has revealed the trailer for the Flower of Krakoa Battle Pass that's set to arrive in Marvel Rivals Season 2, we have a good look at some new skins coming to the game. There are 10 new costumes to unlock, including skins for Iron Fist, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Black Panther, Cloak and Dagger, Hulk, and Rocket. I'm personally looking forward to the classic X-Men skins for Psylocke and Magik, which feature that iconic blue and yellow costume we all know and love. It's consistent updates like these that have earned Marvel Rivals a place in our best free games list.

Marvel Rivals new map for Season 2

Marvel Rivals now has a brand new map as part of Season 2. It's called Hellfire Gala: Krakoa, and you can check out a full breakdown in the video embedded above.

Marvel Rivals ranked changes for Season 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

As someone who mainly plays Competitive Mode in Marvel Rivals, it's exciting to see just how many changes are coming to ranked play this season. Firstly, there's a rank reset for everyone, kicking players down by nine tiers. Then, there are new ranked rewards to earn, including an Emma Frost skin for reaching Gold tier by the end of the season.

Map rotation comes into play in Marvel Rivals Season 2 as well, initially removing the Yggsgard and Tokyo 2099 maps, and adding the new Hellfire Gala: Krakoa Domination map. Bans will be available at Gold tier now, allowing players to remove certain Heroes from their opponents' pools. Lastly, your performance per game, and the number of points you gain or lose, will now be more weighted towards individual performance rather than match outcome.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 live coverage as it happened

Welcome to TechRadar Gaming's Marvel Rivals Season 2 live coverage

With less than 24 hours to go before the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 2, I'm kicking off my live coverage leading up to the new update.

I'll be keeping you up to date with everything you need to know about Marvel Rivals Season 2, including all of the latest news as it happens. This means keeping track of the scheduled downtime, diving into the upcoming changes to ranked play, and breaking down the Season's new Hero, Emma Frost! Having played over a hundred hours of Marvel Rivals since launch, I’m particularly excited to dive in and try out some of the newly buffed Heroes. Who knows, maybe I’ll have a new main moving forward?

There's still plenty of time to get acquainted with all of the new changes set to arrive in Marvel Rivals. For now, check out the official story trailer for this season, which sees our Heroes meeting for the Hellfire Gala, an extravagant event hosted on the mutant paradise of Krakoa.

Let’s kick things off with a look at when you’ll actually be able to jump into Season 2 and try out Emma Frost for yourself. Things are a bit complicated, but expect downtime to start on April 11 at 2AM PDT / 5AM / 10AM BST / 11AM CET / 6PM JST.

The latest patch notes - version 20250411 - are here! Get ready to explore the exciting new content and captivating surprises in S2.0. Find all the details here >> https://t.co/5XYrfI26rN

Google Cloud Next 2025 — all the news and announcements as they happened

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:42:41 +0000

Our live coverage of Google Cloud Next 25 has now ended!

We were live at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas for a conference packed with Google's latest cloud and AI news.

If you missed any of the action, don't fear - you can still catch up with everything we saw below...

Good morning from sunny Las Vegas! We're here for Google Cloud Next, and after a slighted delayed arrival into the city last night, are busy getting ready for the event kicking off tomorrow.

If you'd like a reminder of everything announced at last year's event, you can revisit our live blog here.

Before the conference kicks off tomorrow, we've been invited for a VIP press conference at an undisclosed location in Las Vegas...

Will we be allowed to report on it? What will it be about? Is this just a big AI prank? Stay tuned...

Well, that was interesting - we were whisked off to the famous Las Vegas Sphere, for a look at how Google Cloud worked to help prepare the movie classic The Wizard of Oz for the venue, launching on August 28.

It's fair to say it will be a spectacular show, with the original movie expanded, using AI content generation, to spread across the 16K LED screen at the Sphere.

The event was introduced by Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who welcomed us to the show, and outlined the scale of the technology being used.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Make no mistake - seeing a 75-year-old film, originally filmed in a rectangular format, expanded and spread across the screen, is pretty spectacular...

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

The event then wrapped up with a discussion between Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian and Jim Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment Co, covering how the partnership came about, and their hopes for AI in the future.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Kurian then took to the stage solo to welcome us to Google Cloud Next 25.

That should be that for today - but tune in tomorrow for the first official day of the conference, with press Q&As and keynotes to come!

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Good morning and welcome to the first day of Google Cloud Next!

After last night's magical Sphere experience, we're not sure how Google could possibly top that - but if anyone can, they can - and we are in Vegas after all...

We're off for breakfast and caffeine, before the keynote starts at 9am PST.

We're en route to the keynote now - as you might expect, it's pretty busy...

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

We're in and seated! As per Vegas conference rules, we're being blasted with upbeat techno - accompanied with strange and fantastic animated scenes generated by Google's Veo2 model...

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Brass instruments floating over the Las Vegas strip and the Grand Canyon? It's amazing what AI can do...

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Here we go - the lights go down and it's time for an intro video, again showing some...interesting visuals generated by Veo 2.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian takes to the stage.

"The future is being built by all of us," he notes, saying Google Cloud has shipped over 3,000 improvements and updates in the past year alone.

"Google's AI momentum is exciting," he adds, outlining huge adavnces in adoption of Gemini, Imagen, Veo and the company's other AI tools.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Our first special guest - Sundar Pichai, CEO of parent company Alphabet.

He talks us through the Sphere/Wizard of Oz collaboration we saw last night, as an example of what technology can do to show what is possible.

"With Google Cloud, we see AI as the most important way we can help advance your mission - the opportunity with AI is as big as it gets," he notes.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Pichai adds that Alphabet is ramping up investment in AI infrastructure - and reveals the first news of the day - Google is making its Cloud Wide Area Network open to businesses across the globe.

That's not all - Pichai unveils Ironwood, the company's next-generation TPU.

The seventh-gen hardware will help power the next generation of AI computing, allowing for more analysis and inference like never before.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Moving quickly on - Pichai outlines the success of Gemini 2.5 Pro, which he says is streaking ahead of the competition.

He shows off a couple of examples of why Gemini 2.5 is a "significant leap" over its rivals, including simualting a Rubiks cube - but also a massive simulation of the Earth's magentic field, showing off the huge potential of the model.

Pichai reveals Gemini 2.5 Pro is now available for everyone in AI Studio, Vertex AI, and the Gemini app.

There's also the release of Gemini 2.5 Flash, offering even more access to the platform.

Pichai notes Gemini is helping power a wide range of tools, such as NotebookLM, used by over a million businesses.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

There's also a mention for Veo 2, which is being used by advertising and marketing agencies across the world, Pichai says.

We're then treated to a video showing how McDonald's is using Google's AI tools, using real-time data to improve performance and boost the overall restaurant experience - tasty stuff.

Kurian returns to the stage, highlighting why customers want to work with Google Cloud.

The company's AI-optimized platform is a major selling point, he adds, with the ability to build new agents that offer more help than ever before.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

We welcome Amin Vahdat, VP and GM, ML, Systems and Cloud AI, to the stage, to talk about hardware.

He's joined on stage by an actual Ironwood TPU, noting how it can deal with even the most demanding AI workloads.

Ironwood supports up to 42.5 Exaflops, well beyond even the biggest supercomputers around today.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

This will be backed up by Nvidia GB200 Blackwell chip-powered hardware - and Google will also offer Vera Rubin GPUS on Google Cloud.

There's also a new cloud and rapid storage options for greater throughput and latency.

Vahdat also runs through a host of new software announcements, including boosts for GKE Inference Gateway, Pathways on Google Cloud, and vLLM to TPU, giving easy TPU inference on a familiar library.

"We're truly seeing tremendous momentum," Vahdat notes, with Google helping power AI unicorns across the globe, as well as major customer usage across a wide variety of industries.

Google Distributed Cloud also gets an upgrade, with new Gemini tools allowing Google Distributed Cloud to run locally in air-gapped and connected envrionments.

A quick video from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is up next, highlighting the partnership between the two.

"No company is better at every sungle layer of computing than Google and Google Cloud," he notes.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Vahdat moves on to Google Workspace, which is getting a major boost from Gemini, which is now included in all subscriptions.

A new "Help me analyze" tool is coming to Google Sheets, along with "Audio overviews in Docs", and Google Workspace Flows, to help automate work with agents in the loop.

Imagen 3 is next up, now offering greater image generation than ever, along with voice-generation tool Chirp 3.

Vahdat announced Lyria is now available on Google Cloud, which can create music and other audio from just 10 second of input.

Veo 2 is also much more powerful than ever, offering first and last shot control, more camera angles, extra inpainting and outpainting tools, and much more.

All together, Vahdat says Google is, "the only company that offers generated media models across all modalities".

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

After that bombardment of information, it's time for a demo of just what Vertex AI can do.

To create a teaser video for the Google Cloud Next 25 closing party, Veo 2 is used to create hyper-realistic video input, including different angles, approaches and even audience members.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Kurian returns, and it's time to talk about Vertex AI.

AI models are being used in the physical world too, he notes, highlighting work done in robotics by Samsung and DeepMind.

Vertex allows users to discover, customize and deploy the best models for your business, he notes, introducing a customer example from Intuit, who used AI to help even the most complex tax filings a breeze.

Tens of thousands of companies are using Vertex to find the best models, Kurian notes - with use cases from patient healthcare to energy management.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Agents are never far away, with the tools now able to be easily built on Vertex, connecting to a number of top third-party partners.

Next up, Kurian wants to talk more about agents.

The company is already working with the likes of Salesforce, whose CEO Marc Benioff tells us via video how its Agentforce platform is a key ally for Google Cloud.

Google Cloud Next 25 — The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: latest news, rumors, and everything we’ve heard so far

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:29:08 +0000

With the Samsung Galaxy S25 series now here we’re looking ahead to Samsung’s next big smartphone launch, which in all likelihood will consist of the brand's 2025 foldables.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be the most high-end of these, though there are also reports of a tri-fold model in the works, which might have it beat. Either way though, the Z Fold 7 is likely to be an impressive phone.

We don’t know anything for sure about it yet, but leaks and rumors have revealed some possible specs, features, and other details, so you’ll find all of that below. And we've also written an article focused on the five things we most want from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next big-screen Samsung foldable
When is it out? Probably July
How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749

Likely landing in July

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Based on past form it will probably launch in July
The price is reportedly unchanged from last year

So far there’s no news on exactly when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might launch, but given that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 were both announced in July of their release years, July is our best guess, with the phone probably shipping either in late July or in August.

We can confidently say that this phone is in the works though anyway, especially as multiple sources have come across codenames and model numbers for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Plus, leaker @PandaFlashPro claims that production of the phone will start in May, which would likely work for a July launch.

As for the price, according to one source the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will cost the same amount as its predecessor. That would mean a starting price of $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749.

Can you trust these rumors?

Based on past form we’re fairly confident of a July or August launch for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

We’d take the price rumor above with a pinch of salt, since so far it only comes from one source. But given that the pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series was for the most part identical to that of the S24, there’s a good chance prices will stay the same here too.

A bigger screen and a slimmer build

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will have bigger screens than the Z Fold 6
It may also be slightly slimmer
The crease could be smaller this year too

During an earnings call (via @Jukanlosreve), Samsung itself said that its upcoming foldable phones would have “improved form factors, durability”, so we can probably expect some changes to the design and build of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

At MWC 2025, Samsung Display showed off a ceaseless foldable display, which hits at tech the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could adopt to remove, or at least go someway in removing, the display crease currently seen in the Fold 6.

From other tips and some render images courtesy of tipster OnLeaks, who has a solid track record of accuracy, the Galaxy z Fold looks to be a decent bit slimmer than it's predecessor, measuring 4.5mm thick when unfolded compared to the Fold 6's 5.36mm; a millimeter makes a difference with foldable phones.

(Image credit: @OnLeaks / Android Headlines)

The renders also tip a larger display, with the main display hitting 8.2 inches, up from 7.6 inches, with the cover display reaching 6.5 inches, a tad bigger than the 6.3 inches on the Fold 6.

We’ve also heard that Samsung is considering not putting a digitizer on the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s screen, which might allow the phone to be around 1.5mm thinner, but would also mean the S Pen would likely be thicker and require a battery (and therefore need charging), as without a digitizer in the display, the stylus would instead have to generate an electric current to interact with the screen.

This claim about a lack of digitizer and a redesigned S Pen is something we've now heard from another source too, so it could well be correct.

Yet another source has now said this too, adding that as a result the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be under 10mm thick when folded, making it the slimmest Z Fold model yet. However, the S Pen could get an unspecified "downgrade" as a result.

Also on the design front, leaker @PandaFlashPro has claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will have a smaller display crease than its predecessor, and a more smooth and durable hinge mechanism.

We've also heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could have a smaller display crease, and they echo leaks above in saying that it could be just 4.5mm thick too, and have a larger 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover screen. Interestingly, they also say that it could have better water and dust resistance than the Z Fold 6.

For colors, we've heard that four Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors might be offered, with one of these possibly being Coral Red, while leaked renders show it in a black shade.

Can you trust these rumors?

Until we’ve seen more renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 we’d take any design claims with a pinch of salt. But with Samsung itself saying that at least some of its foldables will be in for a change, there’s a good chance the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be among them.

There’s also a fair chance the claims of larger screens and a slimmer build are accurate, since multiple sources have said as much.

A big 200MP upgrade

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 could have a new 200MP main camera
The under-display camera might be improved
There's no news yet on the other cameras

So far the main Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera claim we’ve heard is that it will have the same 200MP main camera as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which would be quite an upgrade on the 50MP main camera of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

This rumor was given more heft by another that claims the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will get the 200MP main camera from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Given the high price of the Fold phones, it's arguably high time they got given the same powerful main camera as their S-series Ultra counterparts.

Another source has also said the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a 200MP camera, and added that the under-display camera will be improved too.

There’s no word yet on the other cameras, but for reference the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition both have a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view, a 10MP cover screen camera, and a 4MP camera on the foldable screen. So there’s a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will stick with at least some of these.

However, the Z Fold 6 uses an under-display camera for that 4MP sensor, while on the Z Fold Special Edition the lens isn’t hidden under the screen, so it remains to be seen whether the Z Fold 7’s camera will be under-display or not.

Can you trust these rumors?

Since only one source has really shared any camera details yet we’d remain skeptical until we’ve heard more, but we certainly hope the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will get that rumored 200MP camera.

An Elite chipset

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Likely to use a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
Could have 12GB of RAM, just like the current model

According to one source, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will use a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is what we’d expect since that’s what the Samsung Galaxy S25 series uses. If it does, then it should be significantly more powerful than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The same source though says to expect 12GB of RAM and a choice of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of storage, all of which are the same specs as the current model.

Another source has similarly said to expect a faster chipset than the Z Fold 6, and both they and @PandaFlashPro have pointed to a bigger vapor chamber (which could help with sustained performance) and better speakers.

And it could have new software in the form of One UI 8 based on Android 16 according to one source. Another leak has since echoed this claim, as well as agreeing with previous leaks that the Z Fold 7 will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a larger vapor chamber.

Sadly, what the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might not have is a bigger battery, with a source claiming the Z Fold 7's battery is the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6's, which would make it 4,400mAh. However, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7's battery life might still be improved through the use of a highly efficient display.

Can you trust these rumors?

We’d be very surprised if the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 didn’t use a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, since that’s the next model on from the chipset used by the Z Fold 6, and since it’s also used by the Galaxy S25 series.

The storage and vapor chamber claims also sound believable, and sadly so does the claim that it will stick with 12GB of RAM, since even the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra only has that much in most regions.

And Samsung often doesn't increase battery sizes, so the claim that this aspect won't be changing is believable too.

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The Last of Us season 2: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more on the popular HBO show's return

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:01:50 +0000

The Last of Us season 2: key information

- Set to arrive in mid-April
- Three main trailers released
- Key cast members set to return
- New cast members revealed
- The Last of Us Part II's plot will be told across two seasons
- Will contain story beats not seen in the games
- Season 3 announced ahead of this season's premiere
- Could run for four seasons

The Last of Us season 2 is almost here. Indeed, episode 1 of the wildly popular HBO show's second season is set to premiere on April 13 (US) and April 14 (UK and Australia).

There's no time like the present, then, to read up on everything we know about The Last of Us' (TLoU) return. Below, I've compiled the biggest and later news on one of the best Max shows' sophomore chapter. That includes a full rundown of its confirmed cast, details on its various trailers, plot specifics, and the show's future.

Major spoilers follow for The Last of Us season 1 and Naughty Dog's video game series that show is inspired by. Potential spoilers also follow for this season.

The Last of Us season 2 release date

Every path has a price.#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/prGsEfBIloFebruary 19, 2025

The Last of Us season 2 will launch on Sunday, April 13 in the US, and Monday, April 14 in the UK and Australia. HBO confirmed The Last of Us season 2's release date in February.

One month earlier, Sony revealed The Last of Us 2's April 2025 release window at CES 2025. That narrowed down the early 2025 launch window that HBO boss Casey Bloys discussed in November 2024 – comments that arrived two months after Bloys teased its early to mid-2025 launch.

As for where you'll be able to watch season 2, US and Australian viewers can view it on Max. The show will also be available to stream in American Sign Language – the first time a series, or a show's new season, has premiered on a streaming platform with this option. Meanwhile, UK audiences will be able to catch it on Sky and Now TV.

The Last of Us season 2 trailer

The Last of Us season 2's official trailer was unveiled in early March, and it teased a huge showdown between Bella Ramsey's Ellie and Pedro Pascal's Joel. The big moment we're all waiting for (well, those of us who have played the games), though, hasn't been revealed yet. Hey, why ruin it for those who haven't touched Naughty Dog's TLoU game series?

Missed the second teaser that arrived in January, and not only had fans gushing over every detail it contains, but also concerned some about the welfare of one of its new cast members? Check it out below:

There was another The Last of Us season 2 trailer that was released as part of the 2024 edition of The Last of Us Day, aka September 26, aka the in-universe date that the Cordyceps virus ravaged humanity and destroyed life as we know it. However, it's been made private on HBO's YouTube channel, so you can't watch it anymore. Ho hum.

Still, you can still check out a Max sizzle reel trailer highlighting the streamer's forthcoming lineup of thrilling HBO shows, which contains other season 2 footage. That sizzle reel came almost three months after the first images for The Last of Us' second season were revealed.

The Last of Us season 2 confirmed cast

Pedro Pascal returns as Joel in season 2 (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Here's the official cast list for The Last of Us season 2 so far:

Pedro Pascal as Joel
Bella Ramsey as Ellie
Gabriel Luna as Tommy
Rutina Wesley as Maria
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby
Isabela Merced as Dina
Young Mazino as Jesse
Ariela Barer as Mel
Tati Gabrielle as Nora
Spencer Lord as Owen
Jeffrey Wright as Isaac
Danny Ramirez as Manny
Joe Pantoliano as Eugene
Catherine O'Hara as TBC

The first four actors reprise their roles from season 1, and they'll be joined in the major player category by No One Will Save You's Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, the second game's deuteragonist and season 2's primary antagonist.

Per an Entertainment Weekly (EW) interview, Dever's Abby isn't as muscular as her videogame counterpart because, as co-showrunner Neil Druckmann said, "that doesn't play as big of a role in this version of the story because there's not as much violent action moment to moment. It's more about the drama. I'm not saying there's no action here. It's just, again, different priorities and how you approach it."

Abby (second right) leads a team of Fireflies on a mission to avenge some of their members' deaths (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Dever is joined on the newcomers front by Beef star Young Mazino as one of Ellie's friends Jesse, while Alien: Romulus' Isabela Merced plays another of Ellie's companions (and girlfriend) Dina.

As for the rest of this season's new cast members, you can read more about them, the actors who'll play them, and where you've seen these stars before in my season 2 cast and character guide.

Dina (left) will play a big role in season 2 alongside Joel (right) (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Lastly, speaking to Variety, Druckmann confirmed a character with a very minor role in The Last of Us Part II, aka Eugene, will get the Bill and Frank treatment this season – i.e., a large expansion of his personal arc from the games. In November 2023, Druckmann confirmed season 2 will contain brand-new material not seen in the games, so this appears to be what he was teasing almost 18 months ago.

"I get excited when I see these opportunities," Druckmann said. "I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship."

The Last of Us season 2 plot synopsis and rumors

Season 2 will adapt plenty of memorable scenes from Naughty Dog's videogame series (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Major spoilers follow for The Last of Us season 1 and Naughty Dog videogame The Last of Us Part II.

Here's The Last of Us season 2's official logline: "After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind."

That's not a lot to go on but, based on TLoU Part II, plus what happened in the season 1 finale, I've got a good idea of what'll happen this season. I won't discuss major spoilers from the second game – I'm not that heartless – but there are some spoiler-less aspects I can discuss.

Firstly, The Last of Us' second chapter will only have seven episodes – Mazin saying it felt like the "natural breakpoint" for the story. Considering he and Druckman plan to tell TLoU Part II's story across two seasons, that as good a reason as any to make it episodically shorter than season 1.

Bella Ramsey is Ellie. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/p7YewJ4jVYMarch 24, 2025

Llike The Last of Us Part II, season 2 is set five years after its predecessor, so Joel and Ellie will be part of the population of Jackson, the Wyoming town that the traveled to in order to find Joel's brother Tommy in season 1.

Things will take a turn for the worse between the pair, though. In season 1 episode 9, Joel didn't tell Ellie what actually happened at the Fireflies camp – i.e., that they were going to kill her in order to develop a cure for the Cordyceps infection. Ellie is completely immune to the disease, which is why the Fireflies were so keen to get their hands on her.

When Joel finds out, he massacres them to save Ellie's life. It's an understandable decision, especially after what happened to his own daughter Sarah in season 1's opening episode. Nevertheless, he's seemingly consigned humanity to continue its fight against the infection with his selfish actions and, as evidenced by the footage we've seen, he's still feeling guilty about not coming clean to Ellie.

Abby will be this season's primary antagonist (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Elsewhere, there are new intruders looking to avenge deaths from season 1, and one specific event will culminate in a catastrophic and shocking death (if you know, you know).

Other characters will have to forge new alliances, there’s a new religious cult on the scene – the Seraphites – for Ellie and company to deal with, a new ex-Fireflies militia force called the Washington Liberation Front, and another terrifying group who enslave people called the Rattlers. All in all, our heroes are in for a stressful, violent, emotional, and much darker season.

If that sounds like season 2 will ignore the Infected in favor of human-on-human action, don't fret. Speaking to Variety in March 2023, Mazin and Druckmann said of the Infected – whose design was inspired by bean sprouts, the show's VFX animation supervisor told TechRadar – confirmed there'll be a greater variety of flesh-hungry monsters for our heroes and villains to worry about this season.

During season 2's SXSW panel, Druckmann also confirmed that spores – the manner in which the virus is transferred from one person to the next – will be introduced this season, too. What that means for the tendrils-based method of infection, which was used in season 1, is anyone's guess.

There'll be more versions of the Infected in season 2 (Image credit: Liane Henstcher/HBO)

Just as season 1 expanded on the franchise's universe and characters, its follow-up will do likewise. Previously, Druckmann told TechRadar that "we couldn't have told this story in the game", the TV adaptation's timeline change was made to "help make the story more real", and the show's third episode allowed it to "go in a different direction" to what plays out in the games.

So, there's a precedent for Naughty Dog, HBO, and Sony Pictures Television (the show's three production companies) to make changes where necessary. It's unclear, though, if Eugene's story will be the only major addition.

Chatting to Deadline, Druckmann also said the show's executive team is playing around with how much might change in the TV adaptation's next entry, teasing: "The moment-to-moment beats and characters, they might stay the same, they might change. We will do what needs to happen to that story as it transfers from

Past Wordle answers – every solution so far, alphabetical and by date

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 08:16:45 +0000

Memorizing all of the past Wordle answers is nearly impossible – after all, there have now been more than 1,300 of them. But knowing what's gone before is important, because Wordle answers don't repeat – so you could easily be wasting guesses.

What you need then, is a list of past Wordle answers, and that's what I've made for you here. It's organized by month and you can simply search the page to see whether the word you're thinking of has already been used.

So pick one of the best Wordle starting words, take a look at today's Wordle answer if you need to and keep this list close when you're playing – your streak will thank you.

Past Wordle answers: The full list

Below you'll find a list of every Wordle so far – all 1,391 of them (and counting!)

I've first organized the answers alphabetically, and then by month starting with the most recent. You can use the menus on the side (on desktop) or above (on mobile) to jump straight to the month you want.

If you're trying to find out whether a specific word has already been an answer, there are easy ways to search for it:

Windows: click CTRL+F
macOS: click CMD+F
iOS: click Share (the box with the arrow), then 'Find on page'
Android: click the three dots in the top-right then 'Find in page'

In each case, simply type in the word you're looking for, and if it has already been an answer you can use the arrows to navigate to it. Right, on with the list…

Past Wordle answers: alphabetical list

Past Wordle answers: April 2025

Past Wordle answers: March 2025

Past Wordle answers: February 2025

Past Wordle answers: January 2025

Past Wordle answers: December 2024

Past Wordle answers: November 2024

Past Wordle answers: October 2024

Past Wordle answers: September 2024

Past Wordle answers: August 2024

Past Wordle answers: July 2024

Past Wordle answers: June 2024

Past Wordle answers: May 2024

Past Wordle answers: April 2024

Past Wordle answers: March 2024

Past Wordle answers: February 2024

Past Wordle answers: January 2024

Past Wordle answers: December 2023

Past Wordle answers: November 2023

Past Wordle answers: October 2023

Past Wordle answers: September 2023

Past Wordle answers: August 2023

Past Wordle answers: July 2023

Past Wordle answers: June 2023

Past Wordle answers: May 2023

Past Wordle answers: April 2023

Past Wordle answers: March 2023

Past Wordle answers: February 2023

Past Wordle answers: January 2023

Past Wordle answers: December 2022

Past Wordle answers: November 2022

Past Wordle answers: October 2022

Past Wordle answers: September 2022

Past Wordle answers: August 2022

Past Wordle answers: July 2022

Past Wordle answers: June 2022

Past Wordle answers: May 2022

Past Wordle answers: April 2022

Past Wordle answers: March 2022

Past Wordle answers: February 2022

Past Wordle answers: January 2022

Past Wordle answers: December 2021

Past Wordle answers: November 2021

Past Wordle answers: October 2021

Past Wordle answers: September 2021

Past Wordle answers: August 2021

Past Wordle answers: July 2021

Past Wordle answers: June 2021

Past Wordle answers: Days with two answers

On which days have there been two Wordle answers?

One of the key things about Wordle is that everyone gets the same answer each day. Or is it? There have been four occasions when the game has served up two different solutions, causing no end of consternation among players.

The first two were victims of the New York Times' purchase of the game in February 2022. The NYT removed around a dozen words that it decided were too difficult for players, or that were in some way controversial.

However, at that time people could play either via the NYT's games site, or via the original Wordle website created by Josh Wardle. And unfortunately, the changes made by the NYT didn't always filter through correctly to the original version.

The result was that on February 15, 2022 some people got AROMA and some the much harder AGORA for puzzle #241. Then on March 30, the same thing happened with STOVE and HARRY for game #284; the NYT thought people would only consider HARRY to be a name, and not a verb (as in to harrass), so it removed it.

The problem reoccurred in May 2022. On May 10 (game #324), the NYT removed the word FETUS in the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision to repeal Roe vs Wade, deeming it too controversial. Instead, most players got SHINE. The next day, some players got GECKO while others received BUTCH, due to the NYT's servers not yet having reset for everyone from the previous day's change.

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Marvel Rivals skins for Season 2

Marvel Rivals new map for Season 2

Marvel Rivals ranked changes for Season 2

Marvel Rivals Season 2 live coverage as it happened

Welcome to TechRadar Gaming's Marvel Rivals Season 2 live coverage

Google Cloud Next 2025 — all the news and announcements as they happened

Cut to the chase

Look out for it in July

Can you trust these rumors?

Bigger screens and a better hinge