Ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram are coming to the UK – for a price
Meta has announced that it is launching a subscription service in the UK that will let users of Facebook and Instagram pay to avoid ads.
The plan has already been rejected by the European Union, but this does not affect post-Brexit UK. Separate subscription tiers are available for the social platforms’ mobile apps and the web. For anyone unwilling or unable to pay, the Facebook and Instagram experience will remain riddled with ads.
Suno Studio is an AI-powered audio workstation for artists and producers
Suno has launched Suno Studio, a generative audio workstation that combines professional multi-track editing with AI-powered stem generation.
AI generated music is a bit of a problem for the industry -- as proven by Spotify’s recent announcement that it will be clamping down on spammy tracks and artist impersonation -- but Suno Studio is being presented as a new way for songwriters, producers, and aspiring artists to create music.
System integrations -- strategic phasing or waterfall implementation? [Q&A]
As organizations continue to navigate complex system integrations, one critical decision that arises is whether to embrace strategic phasing or waterfall implementation. The choice of approach can shape the success or failure of projects, particularly when dealing with large-scale ERP consolidations and replacements.
We spoke with Scott Maggiolo, SVP of information technology at Ribbon Communications to understand the pros and cons of each and how the decision is not one-size-fits-all.
Spotify removes 75 million spam tracks and introduces stronger AI rules
Spotify has removed more than 75 million spam tracks in the last year, a move it says is part of its response to the rapid growth of generative AI in music.
The audio streaming giant announced the figure alongside new policies to curb spam uploads, protect artists from impersonation, and give listeners clearer information about when AI tools are involved in a track’s creation.
Microsoft makes Windows 10 ESU completely free... for a year... for some
With just a month to go until the official end of support for Windows 10, Microsoft has been forced to cede ground. The company will now offer a year of ESU (Extended Support Updates) available completely free of charge, no strings attached, for people living in the European Economic Area (EEA).
While free access to the ESU program is available in other parts of the world, it is only available with conditions. In Europe, these conditions no longer apply.
YouTube finally lets you hide recommendations at the end of videos
There is a lot to feel frustrated about in relation to YouTube, but Google has announced a change that helps to squash one of its annoyances.
While in-video ads are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid – short of paying for the privilege – there is now a way to hide “end screens”. These short snippets at the end of the video you have just watched are a form of advertising used by creators to promote their other content.
The 1980s called... POP Phone is a vintage-style handset for today's smartphones
“In a world of constant distraction, the POP Phone invites you to slow down and bring meaning back to every call.” That is how Native Union describes its new handset which is designed to mimic the landline phones many of us grew up with in the 1980s and 1990s (and ever further back).
Retailing for $39.99/£34.99, the POP Phone pairs retro charm with a USB-C connection that works seamlessly with today’s smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Is it practical? Not really. Is it cool? Hell, yeah.
DDoS attack volumes surge 41 percent as threats rapidly evolve
The latest Radar report from Gcore finds DDoS attacks have reached unprecedented scale and disruption in 2025, and businesses need to act fast to protect themselves from this evolving threat.
Attack volumes increased by 41 percent compared to Q1-Q2 of 2024, evidencing dangerous long term growth trends predicted in prior Radar reports. The largest attack peaked at 2.2 Tbps in Q1-Q2, surpassing the 2 Tbps peak recorded in late 2024.
Cherry XTRFY MX 10.1 wireless keyboard offers triple connectivity and extended battery life
Cherry has introduced the Cherry XTRFY MX 10.1 Wireless, a full-size, low-profile mechanical keyboard that combines a slim design with high-end specs. Available to buy now and priced at $249 on Amazon, the keyboard supports triple connection modes, and can last up to 900 hours on Bluetooth.
The keyboard operates at 4000Hz when connected wirelessly and up to 8000Hz through USB-C, which means it reports keystrokes at a much higher frequency than other keyboards.
Tech investment is needed to fight geopolitical risk to supply chains
A new report finds that nearly three quarters (73 percent) of UK businesses expect geopolitical risk to intensify over the next 12 months, with 62 percent saying their supply chains can’t deal with the shifting geopolitical sands.
The study from Ivalua, based on a survey of 300 supply chain and procurement decision-makers in the UK, shows the war in Ukraine has negatively impacted confidence in their organization’s supply chain the most (77 percent). This is followed by US tariffs (75 percent), military exercises and testing disrupting major shipping straits (73 percent), tensions between China and Taiwan (62 percent), and the war in Gaza (58 percent).
The social media apps harvesting your data for AI
We all know that data is a valuable commodity, whether it’s to build marketing profiles or target advertising. Increasingly it’s also being used to train AI models, but do you know what the sites you use are doing with your information?
Data privacy and removal company Incogni has released its Social Media Privacy Ranking 2025 report, which ranks major social media platforms on user privacy, compliance, and overall data protection practices.
Raspberry Pi 500+ all-in-one PC debuts for $200 with mechanical keyboard
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has expanded its line of all-in-one desktop computers with the launch of the Raspberry Pi 5-powered Raspberry Pi 500+.
Priced at $200, the new keyboard PC blends nostalgic design cues from the home computers of the 1980s with modern performance.
Proton Mail launches new mobile apps for Android and iOS
Popular encrypted email service Proton Mail is rolling out brand new iOS and Android apps, offering users a faster, more modern and smoother experience.
Email started on desktop computers and was designed accordingly. As a result early mail apps could feel awkward with slow speeds, clumsy tabs unintuitive layouts. But today, phones are users' primary access to the internet. With this in mind, over the past year, Proton has embarked on an ambitious project to rebuild Proton Mail's iOS and Android apps from the ground up.
Corsair launches FRAME 4500X, a feature-rich PC chassis for high-end gaming and workstation builds
Corsair has added the FRAME 4500X to its range of PC cases, a mid-tower designed for high-end builds. The case combines a large glass front and side panel with a curved design that gives a clear view of internal components. It also provides a spacious interior and multiple airflow options aimed at keeping the internals cool.
The chassis supports up to 10x 120mm fans or 5x 140mm fans, with mounts on the top, rear, bottom, and power supply shroud. The included fans come in two versions: the RS120-R PWM ARGB or the iCUE LINK LX120-R RGB reverse-rotor fans. Both are designed to draw air into the case while keeping RGB lighting unobstructed. The iCUE LINK version connects through a single cable for fan speed and lighting control.
iScanner introduces AI edge repair to fix stapled and damaged document scans
Scanning documents with staples, bent corners, or clipped edges has long been a hassle for people who rely on mobile apps for paperwork. A new feature in iScanner, called Edge Repair, is designed to take care of that issue. By applying AI directly on the device, the app can smooth out rough edges and rebuild missing parts of a page so the final scan looks as it should.
Instead of forcing users to trim staples or re-scan pages to avoid cut-off corners, Edge Repair works behind the scenes to identify what is missing and restore it pixel by pixel. The creators say it can handle folds, obstructions, or tilted pages, producing a clean version without requiring any manual fixes.
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