Latest news with #TechRadar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Consumer group slams Microsoft for leaving Windows 10 users stuck without options
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025. After that, users won't get security updates unless they pay or pick special options. One option Microsoft gave is to pay $30 for one more year of security updates, till October is a first-time offer for regular users, and not everyone is happy about it, as mentioned in the report by TechRadar. Now, Microsoft added two new ways to avoid paying $30: Use the Windows Backup app to save your data to OneDrive. Or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points instead of cash. But the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) says that's not good enough. PIRG fights against tech waste and supports longer product life, according to the report. Many old PCs can't upgrade to Windows 11 PIRG's Lucas Rockett Gutterman says 400 million PCs can't upgrade to Windows 11. These older PCs will be 'junked' just because they don't meet Windows 11's strict hardware rules. Gutterman believes Microsoft should do more, like give longer support for Windows 10 automatically or make Windows 11 work on older PCs, as per the report by TechRadar. ALSO READ: Trump brags about planting Elon Musk drug abuse story in NYT — 'I made that happen' He also said most people feel confused and frustrated. 'Users feel yanked around,' and these updates won't fix the bigger problem. Tech expert Darren Allan thinks adding the Backup app option is a positive step. But it's still not enough to solve the long-term problem, according to the reports. Live Events Experts say one year of support isn't enough He points out businesses get 3 years of extra updates, while consumers only get one. That's unfair, especially with so many PCs still working fine. He suggests Microsoft should think about giving 2–3 more years of updates to consumers. Even if ads were added in return, it might be worth it, according to the report by TechRadar. The bigger issue is preventing e-waste, says both PIRG and Darren Allan. Millions of devices could end up in landfills even though they still work well. Conclusion: PIRG and experts agree Microsoft must take more responsibility. A single year of support and minor options aren't enough to stop a major tech waste crisis, as per the reports. FAQs Q1. What will happen to Windows 10 after October 2025? Microsoft will stop free security updates for Windows 10 after October 2025, unless users pay or choose new options. Q2. Can old PCs upgrade to Windows 11? Most older PCs can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to strict hardware rules set by Microsoft.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple in the AI race: Could an external AI model power Siri?
Apple (AAPL) is reportedly considering external artificial intelligence (AI) models like Anthropic ( or OpenAI ( to power Siri, according to Bloomberg reporting. TechRadar editor at large Lance Ulanoff joins Asking for a Trend with Josh Lipton to discuss what the report signals about Apple's place in the AI race and the iPhone maker's unique position as an AI laggard with a massive user base. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend here. Apple weighing its options in the AI space, the company considering help from Anthropic or OpenAI to power a new version of Siri. For more, we're bringing in now Lance Ulanoff, editor-at-large of Tech Radar. Lance, my friend, it is always good to see you. So, Bloomberg reports, Lance, you saw this. Apple thinking about OpenAI or Anthropic to power a new version of Siri, so not relying on its own in-house models. You saw that headline, Lance, you saw the report. What do you make of it? Well, I mean, look, everyone knows that Apple's behind. Apple's admitted it. Apple, you know, basically was trying to do too much at once. I mean, when we spoke to them after WWDC, they were talking about working on sort of V1 and V2 simultaneously. And it just wasn't where it wasn't up to Apple standards. So they couldn't release the Siri, the amazing Siri that was going to understand you and understand your your interface and talk to you more naturally. They just weren't ready to do it. And now, obviously, we know that they've admitted they're pushing it out into next year. But Apple has never really talked about pushing aside its own models, at least not publicly. You know, they're still trying to work on their models. They like to do as much locally, they like to do as much on their private cloud compute, which protects the privacy of their consumers. And this idea that they simply can't get their models to where they need to be and they're turning to the true experts, which is Anthropic and OpenAI among others who are out there doing this, to maybe replace their own, I'm not sure I believe it yet. I think that what I do believe about this report is that conversations are happening. And look, conversations could be happening just so Apple can learn more. You know, that they want to understand how are people doing this so we can do better. And if they find that we simply can't do better, then maybe they will spend those many billions of dollars to gain access to these models. Lance, the folks over at CFRA, those analysts, now they're fans of Apple, they got to buy. He was their response to this report, and they said they said this is a good sign. It provides a hedge against Apple internal initiatives. And then they said, Lance, they said, although Apple has clearly fallen behind the AI race to others, we still expect the company to get it right over the next 12 months and believe it is uniquely and best positioned as a distributor of AI to the consumer. So that is the optimistic take. Do you do you share that optimism, Lance? Well, they are in a good position. I mean, you think about the the the billions of iPhones out there, right? You think about everybody that is using their services, right? The touch points that Apple has with the population. So that's their unique position, right? If they can flip the switch on so that people are truly engaging with the AI that they're going to build. The problem is Apple doesn't seem to have the core expertise for the competition. It has struggled, and you know, I said to Apple a couple about a month ago, I said, you know, you guys play it very safe because of your commitment to privacy and security and and not sort of making the big mistake, whereas the competition in the AI space, they run a little fast and loose and they mop it up later on. That's not how Apple works. So there is a tension here between what you're talking about, the Apple's core, you know, ability to reach so many people and Apple's need to have that privacy and that control. And I don't know exactly how Apple solves it. This would be a very big deal because if they pull in a third party, there is a risk factor, right? When you pull in a cloud, you know, an Anthropic or OpenAI and you say now that model lives on our servers, you really have to say how is that model trained? Because now the liability is on us. If they don't have that new version of Siri though, Lance, what would that mean for the iPhone upgrade cycle? Because you know, in just a few months, come September, you would expect Tim Cook to take the stage and introduce the new iPhone lineup. Yeah, yeah, that's that 100%. I'm sure that's going to happen. Everyone expects an iPhone 17 line. And, you know, they they since they kind of have down pat the story on what's happening with their AI, they don't have to say that much about it. I don't think they'll oversell it. But yeah, it's becoming a problem because AI is moving markets, right? AI is the most important, the most transformative technology we have seen in a generation. That's not going anywhere. Apple needs to be at the forefront of it. It has to show something. I think it is going to be difficult in the fall because they won't be able to pair the new iPhone with their latest AI because it simply won't be ready unless they do something major in the interim. But even if they do, to get it baked into those new pieces of hardware would be very difficult. Final question, Lance. How how do you think Apple finds itself in this position where it's reportedly they may have to look to Sam Altman's OpenAI or Anthropic? Well, look, Apple said it to me, you know, that they want things to be at the Apple level, right? That unless it meets their requirements for performance, they're not going to put it out there. And so that's how they end up in that position because they keep looking at what they're doing, and if they're not satisfied, they have to find a way to be satisfied. And they know that this is, you know, this is very unlike Vision Pro where they kind of threw something out there and said, hey, maybe the consumers will love this, we're leading the way. This is them chasing after a market that is getting out of control, that they know that consumers are deeply, you know, they've embraced it, it is moving fast, the competition is moving much more quickly. They must do something, which probably means Apple has to change its approach. Lance, always great to have you on the show. Thank you, sir. It's a pleasure. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Tom's Guide
01-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Exclusive: OnePlus Nord CE5 and Buds 4 arrive next week — and these are the key specs
OnePlus is launching a host of devices next Tuesday (July 8), including two phones, a tablet, a smartwatch and a pair of earbuds. While we've heard some details about the mid-priced Nord 5 (via TechRadar), OnePlus's budget Nord CE5 model and its new Buds 4 wireless earbuds remain a mystery. Luckily for us, we've received some exclusive insider info for these two devices courtesy of Celina Shi, OnePlus' chief marketing officer for OnePlus Europe. And we're happy to report that OnePlus still knows how to impress with big specs. If OnePlus keeps the price for this phone and this pair of 'buds on the low side, as it has in the past, then this could spell big things for the Android phone and wireless earbuds space. Here's what we know about the OnePlus Nord CE5 and OnePlus Buds 4. The Nord CE5 is shown in its Black Infinity colorway, an "elegant and simple" option as Shi describes it. The other option is Marble Mist, described by Shi as a "kind of off-white, almost sandy design with marble highlights once the light hits it. It's really something else." The big hardware news for the Nord CE5 is its MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset. This will apparently offer "significant [performance] improvements compared to other chipsets that sit in the same price category," Shi said. "The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex is not just near the top of the category, it is a massive upgrade compared to the previous generation - offering a 79% increase in overall performance and over 50% improvement in graphics performance," Shi added. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "We know from speaking to our community that performance is a key element, and our philosophy for the OnePlus Nord CE series has always been to make the OnePlus Fast & Smooth experience accessible to more people." OnePlus' usual focus on battery is easy to see here. There's a 5,200 mAh battery inside the Nord CE5, capable of 80W wired SuperVOOC charging. The battery can go from drained to fully charged in 52 minutes according to OnePlus' testing, though hopefully with such a large capacity, you won't need to test the speedy charging that often. The Nord CE5 also offers bypass charging. In case you're unfamiliar with this feature, Shi explains it as a charging option that "powers the phone directly from the mains if it is plugged in and fully charged while gaming. This helps extend the lifespan of the battery, and reduces heat generation if the phone is used while plugged in." Despite being a cheaper-than-average phone, the Nord CE5 still packs OnePlus AI features like its more expensive siblings. "I can't quite reveal all of [the features] yet, but it is a package that puts it on parity with our flagship devices," Shi said. This would suggest that we'll get staple features like text summaries, audio transcription, image editing tools and more, just like OnePlus' other recent devices. Shi also revealed that the phone's main camera will be a 50MP shooter, using a Sony LYT-600 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and the ability to capture 4K HDR video at 60fps. Shi promises this camera will deliver "consistently sharp, blur-free shots," using HDR algorithms and color science borrowed from the flagship OnePlus 13. Let's also talk about the OnePlus Buds 4, available in Zen Green and Storm Grey. While the design is familiar, there's a big change under the surface — swipe volume controls to add more versatility to the usual capacitive ones. Shi also revealed that the Buds 4 will get a major ANC upgrade, capable of canceling up to 55dB of unwanted noise, compared to 49dB for the OnePlus Buds 3, and a 200% improvement in speech filtering. The effective range has also been increased from 4,000Hz to 5,500Hz, to capture more external sound and cancel it out. The new ear buds should also be more responsive, with the Buds 4 able to make up to 800 adjustments per second to account for whatever's beyond your ears causing a racket. The ANC is also highly adaptive to sound around you, altering its cancellation level as needed. "The noise cancellation automatically lets in more noise if you are, for example, moving through traffic," Shi said. "It will be turned back to full efficiency if you get on a train, making the experience more seamless, and improving your safety." Like previous OnePlus Buds, the Buds 4 feature two drivers per earbud — a 6mm tweeter and an 11mm woofer. But interestingly, each driver uses an individual DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to turn audio info from a device into sound. What's the benefit of this? "Unlike other setups, where the two drivers share a DAC, this can cut down on cross-interference between the two elements," Shi said. OnePlus makes big promises for the Buds 4's battery life. There is apparently 11 hours' worth of capacity in the buds themselves, and 45 hours total including the case. When the tank's empty, you can get 11 hours of playback again after only 10 minutes of charging. Not even the OnePlus Buds 4 are exempt from the AI feature boom. New to this model is AI translation, available when paired to a OnePlus device. While we have plenty of details to chew over here, Shi still kept the prices of these two products a secret.:"I can't reveal the exact pricing yet, but our core philosophies are clear. "For the OnePlus Nord CE series, our goal is to offer the core, OnePlus trusted Fast & Smooth experience at a more accessible price point. In other words, flagship features shouldn't necessarily require flagship prices. "For the OnePlus Buds 4, these are aimed at bringing many of the features from our flagship OnePlus Buds Pro series into a more accessible price range." We will wait until after our full testing is finished before we judge if the Nord CE5 is worthy of a spot on our best cheap phones list, or if the Buds 4 deserve to reside among the best earbuds. But these specs have whetted our appetite for the launch event next week, and once we have the full details along with pricing info, hopefully we'll be all the more excited to get our hands on OnePlus' latest gear.
Tom's Guide
30-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Even at AU$1,000 off, I still can't afford my dream Breville coffee machine — but I won't deny this EOFY deal is an absolute steal
Like many of you, I have a dream. But perhaps what differs between your dreams and mine is that my only goal in life is to have a killer at-home coffee set-up. From specialty coffee beans to decorative mugs and flavoured syrups, I want it all. And right now, my most wished-for coffee machine, the Breville Oracle Touch, has been discounted by a massive AU$700 during the final hours of EOFY. Even though that's a mighty fine discount directly from the maker, what's even more tempting about this particular offer is that Tom's Guide has an exclusive code (BREVFUTURE10) that whacks an additional 10% off the total. That brings the machine down to AU$2,699, a whole AU$1,000 off the listed price! While I'm still a ways off investing in this dream machine, my friends at TechRadar gave it a massive 4.5 stars in their review, knocking it back due to its hefty price tag. But I reckon this AU$1,000 discount would make their reviewer think otherwise. This magic coffee machine does it all and makes it look easy. With one swipe, you can select your preferred coffee from a range of presets, and it'll automatically adjust your grind settings and milk temperature. You'll go hands-free (mostly) for the hard stuff — like tamping your puck and frothing the milk — but you'll have full control over your perfect cup. You'll even score two bags of beans free, courtesy of Just make sure to apply the code BREVFUTURE10 at checkout to receive the full discount. You may be thinking, "well, how do you know it's your dream coffee machine if you haven't used it before?" and I can gladly say I have. The Breville Oracle Touch has made a fine home for itself in the Tom's Guide AU office kitchen, and when it hits 11am, there's no doubt that I'll be at the coffee machine, mastering my own almond latte preset. As someone who doesn't love tamping and selecting grind settings, the Oracle Touch's presets have truly spoiled me. As the name suggests, all you need to do is press the colour touchscreen display to choose your grind size and drink you prefer, and hit the go button. If you're short on time in the mornings, the machine sports a dual boiler system, which speeds up the coffee-making process. Simply put, the machine can multitask, extracting your espresso shot and frothing your milk to foamy heaven at the same time. So if you have the means to nab this gorgeous machine, the final hours of EOFY are the best time to act. I don't expect this deal to hang around past midnight AEST July 1, so you'd better hurry. Deliciously dreamy coffee awaits. And if Breville's coffee machines aren't up your alley, you can use our Breville coupon code across the entire site to score an additional 10% off. What a win.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera tweak could be the glow-up your selfies didn't know they needed
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Samsung might be ditching the hidden selfie cameras and bringing back punch-holes on both the Z Fold 7's inner and cover screens. UDC tech still struggles with clarity, thanks to screen layers over the lens. If these changes stick, the Z Fold 7 might just be Samsung's ticket back to the top of the foldable race. A new Galaxy Z Fold 7 rumor has surfaced, and it's hinting that Samsung might be swapping under-display cameras for punch-holes on both the main and cover screens. According to PandaFlash on X, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is likely ditching the under-display selfie cameras for a classic punch-hole setup (via TechRadar). Recent renders back this up, clearly showing the new camera cutout right on the main screen and cover display. Going back to the recently leaked renders, it becomes clear that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will adopt punch-hole cameras on both the cover and inner screens. But for some fans, this might feel like a step back in both looks and tech for the Fold lineup. This move throws it back to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the last time we saw a punch-hole on the main and cover screens. Since then—even up to the current Galaxy Z Fold 6—Samsung has stuck with under-display cameras (UDC), starting with the Z Fold 3, which was the first to hide the inner selfie camera under the screen. There's no official explanation as to why Samsung is ditching the under-display camera on the Z Fold 7, but the likely reason is simple: better photo quality. Even with improvements, UDC still struggles to match the clarity of a regular punch-hole shooter, thanks to the extra display layer sitting on top of the lens. Sure, under-display cameras are a cool flex tech-wise, but hiding the lens under screen layers tends to wreck photo quality. The camera must contend with multiple display layers, which typically results in noisy, underexposed photos, along with issues like excessive lens flare and peculiar artifacts. A punch-hole camera, on the other hand, skips the visual gymnastics and usually delivers way cleaner, sharper photos. Assuming these rumored tweaks actually make it to the final Z Fold 7, Samsung might finally have the spark it needs to take back the foldable crown. After years of playing it safe, this could be the shake-up that puts it back at the top of every best foldable list. Samsung keeps quiet for now, but all signs point to a July 9 reveal for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
