The $6.5 billion deal could shake up AI and data centers
There are questions about how it affects Arm’s neutrality and SoftBank’s long-term strategy
SoftBank, the Japanese owner of Arm, is close to acquiring Ampere Computing, a company that develops data center chips based on Arm's architecture.
In January 2025, BNN Bloomberg reported SoftBank was exploring a purchase of Ampere, which is backed by Oracle and private equity firm Carlyle Group, in a move widely seen as part of Softbank’s bid to challenge AMD and Intel’s dominance in the AI and data center chip market. However, as we previously reported, there were some hurdles to be overcome - Ampere was gearing up for an IPO, suggesting a desire to remain independent, while SoftBank would require approval from both Oracle and Carlyle Group before a deal could move forward.
However, a new Bloomberg report suggests that the deal is nearing completion and could be announced in the coming weeks. Sources familiar with the matter estimate its value to be around $6.5 billion, including debt. In 2021, SoftBank valued Ampere at over $8 billion during a proposed minority investment.
Strategic questions
Ampere develops high-performance processors for data centers, including the 192-core "Polaris" AmpereOne and upcoming 256-core "Magnetrix", using Arm’s chip designs. Acquiring Ampere could help SoftBank, which previously bought UK-based AI chip designer Graphcore, expand its footprint in the competitive data center and AI markets.
That said, the move does raise some interesting strategic questions. Arm, long dominant in mobile chips, has been working to expand into server and AI processing.
Ampere is one of the few firms independently developing Arm-based server chips. If the deal moves forward, it could impact Arm’s role as a neutral supplier of intellectual property. Integrating Ampere into SoftBank’s ecosystem may also shift competitive dynamics in the industry.
Market conditions add a further level of complexity to the benefits buying Ampere will bring to SoftBank. The semiconductor sector faces rising competition and concerns over slowing AI-related investments.
As Bloomberg notes, “Chinese startup DeepSeek, which unveiled an inexpensively produced AI model last month, has raised the specter that technology providers won’t be generating as much revenue as predicted.”
A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, February 9 (game #609).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #610) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
AUNT
AROMA
SHOWER
BOUQUET
VASE
PEPPER
NOSE
STOP
UNCLE
TOMATO
TRUCE
DUST
SCATTER
NOTE
EITHER
MERCY
NYT Connections today (game #610) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Powder something
GREEN: Smell your drink
BLUE: End this now
PURPLE: You say neither and I say neither
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #610) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: SPRINKLE
GREEN: SCENTS OF WINE
BLUE: "AAH, ENOUGH!"
PURPLE: WORDS FAMOUSLY PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #610) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #610, are…
YELLOW: SPRINKLE DUST, PEPPER, SCATTER, SHOWER
GREEN: SCENTS OF WINE AROMA, BOUQUET, NOSE, NOTE
BLUE: "AAH, ENOUGH!" MERCY, STOP, TRUCE, UNCLE
PURPLE: WORDS FAMOUSLY PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AUNT, EITHER, TOMATO, VASE
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 mistakes
My first mistake was thinking that one group had something to do with flowers, so I I had BOUQUET, VASE, together and randomly added AROMA and SHOWER as they sounded floral.
Then, after getting SPRINKLE and SCENTS OF WINE, I struggled for ages to work out what the final two groups were and got there with a complete stab in the dark looking for the fourth word to add to MERCY, STOP and TRUCE. I doubt I’ll be the only one who struggled today.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 9 February, game #609)
YELLOW: MASSIVE GIANT, JUMBO, MONSTER, SUPER
GREEN: USED WHEN SERVING SOUP BOWL, LADLE, POT, SPOON
BLUE: SOMEBODY CHARACTER, INDIVIDUAL, PARTY, PERSON
PURPLE: SCI-FI FRANCHISES ALIEN, AVATAR, DUNE, TRON
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
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The Dyson V15s Submarine and WashG1 are both capable of mopping your floors. In fact, they're the only models in Dyson's floor-care lineup that can do so. In this article, we'll compare the two, so you can see which model will suit your needs best.
The V15s Detect Submarine launched in 2023 and is a hybrid vacuum and mop. It's a V15 Detect vacuum, with an extra floorhead just for mopping. The vacuuming capabilities are advanced, but mopping functionality is relatively basic, and both are operated via a trigger that needs to be continually depressed. You can get the full low-down in our Dyson V15s Submarine review.
In contrast, the WashG1 is a dedicated wet cleaner. It launched in 2024 and offers more advanced mopping capabilities: there are multiple mop modes to choose from; it will separate liquid from solid waste for easier disposal; and it has self-cleaning capabilities. It's operated via a single-press button. It can't vacuum at all, though. Find out more in our full Dyson WashG1 review.
Which model you go for will depend on your needs. The V15s Detect Submarine is great if you're short on space, and want a two-in-one appliance for vacuuming and mopping. It's also perhaps a better choice if you only have a bit of hard floor, because the water tanks are far smaller than those of the WashG1. However, be aware that a design flaw means it's very easy to spill dirty water back onto your newly clean floors.
Those with lots of hard floor or wanting to deal with bigger or more challenging spillages would be better opting for the WashG1; but it's a dedicated model that can't clean your carpets, too.
The WashG1 is specifically a wet cleaner, with no vacuuming capabilities(Image credit: Future)
Both are premium priced appliances, with the WashG1 the cheaper of the two. However, when you factor in that the V15s Submarine also comes with all the capabilities of the (not cheap) V15 vacuum, it appears to be slightly better value for money.
That's the short version; read on for a more in-depth look at how the Dyson V15s Submarine vs WashG1 compare.
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is a V15 stick vacuum with an extra floorhead for mopping(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: price
V15s Submarine is more expensive, at $949.99 / £799.99 / AU$949
WashG1 is cheaper at $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,549
Both are premium appliances – Submarine is perhaps better value
In the US, the WashG1 has a list price of $699.99, while the V15s Detect Submarine is $949.99 at full price.
In the UK, it's £599.99 for the WashG1 and £799.99 for the V15s Detect Submarine.
Finally, shoppers in Australia can get the WashG1 for AU$949. There are a couple of different V15s options here – the standard model is called the Absolute and costs AU$1,549, and there's an upgraded option with features borrowed from the Gen5detect vacuum, for AU$1,649.
Those are all the list prices when purchasing direct from Dyson – it doesn't account for deals or differences in price when shopping via third-party retailers.
The V15s costs a fair bit more in all territories, but you're perhaps getting better value for money with the V15s, because you're also getting all the functionality of the V15 vacuum. Prices for the V15 on its own start from $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449.
Note that the Submarine floorhead isn't compatible with any other stick vacuums, even the standard V15 – the software has been rewired in the V15s to support vacuuming and mopping.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: specs
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: design
V15s Submarine is a V15 vacuum with an extra mop floorhead
Dyson WashG1 is a dedicated wet floor cleaner; no vacuuming abilities
WashG1 has larger water tanks and multiple mop rollers
The V15s Detect Submarine looks just like one of Dyson's newest flagship cordless stick vacuums, with a motor, filter, dust bin, and cyclone array. In fact, that's exactly what it is – the difference is entirely in the additional mopping floorhead.
The standard version is based on the V15 vacuum. In Australia only, there's also an upgraded version that's more similar to the Gen5detect, with a crevice tool integrated into the wand, and more advanced filtration.
The V15s Detect Submarine will typically come with two vacuuming floorheads (plus the separate mop). The Motorbar floorhead is suitable for both hard floors and carpet, and is the head that needs to be attached if you want to use automatic suction adjustment. The Fluffy floorhead is specialized for use on hard floors only, and has a built-in laser to illuminate hidden dirt. You'll also get a selection of detail tools (the exact bundle, including specific floorheads, will vary by territory, version and retailer, so do double-check before you buy.) All of this means the V15s can be used for a wide variety of vacuum cleaning tasks.
The mop floorhead contains one velvety roller, and clean and dirty water tanks. Unlike most of today's best wet-and-dry vacuums, there's no suction when the machine is in mopping mode.
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine's mop floorhead has just one velvety mop roller(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
The WashG1 has no vacuuming capabilities (so no suction at all) – and is a tool dedicated to only mopping. The only cleaner head comprises two high-density microfiber rollers for liquid spillages, with a plate that presses into them to squeeze out dirty water. The floorhead also includes secondary rollers with big nylon bristles, designed to tackle solid mess.
A key point of difference is that the WashG1 will separate solid and liquid waste as it cleans. So while the dirty water ends up in the dirty water tank, any solid debris is channeled into a tray that sits in the base of the floorhead, ready to be tapped into the bin. This makes emptying easier and is good news for long-term maintenance.
The WashG1 has multiple different rollers, and a tray for solid waste(Image credit: Future)
The setup of the clean and dirty water tanks on the V15s Detect Submarine and the WashG1 is quite different, and on balance the latter is much better.
The V15s has a small bottle for clean water, and the tank for dirty water is hidden behind the roller. This dirty water compartment isn't sealed, so when you're done mopping and remove the floorhead, you'll end up sloshing dirty water over your newly cleaned floor.
The water tanks on the V15s are small, and integrated into the floorhead(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
On the WashG1, the dirty and clean water tanks are transparent and mounted on the front of the handle, making them more easily visible and accessible. Dyson also specifically addressed the Submarine's leaking issue when designing the WashG1. There, each tank is individually sealed with a screw top. I isn't quite perfect – the caps don't screw on especially deeply, and on test we found that unless handled carefully, the water inlet could also occasionally leak dirty water. Overall, though, it's far, far better than on the Submarine.
The tanks on the WashG1 are much larger and sit on the front of the handle(Image credit: Future)
Another thing to be aware of is that the water tanks on the WashG1 are far larger than those on the Submarine. The WashG1 will hold about a liter of clean water at a time, while the Submarine will hold only 300ml. The Submarine will manage roughly a large living room before you'll need to refill – if you have a number of rooms you want to mop, you'll get round faster and with fewer interruptions with the WashG1.
Controls and screen
The V15s Detect Submarine is operated by a trigger, which needs to be continually depressed for use, whereas the WashG1 has the far more user-friendly single-press button.
The Submarine has just one cleaning mode, plus there's no way to choose different water levels (even via the MyDyson app). In contrast, the WashG1 has many: three different hydration modes, alongside a no-water mode and a Max mode. That last one is the wettest of the lot, and is designed for ingrained dirt.
The V15s has one water mode, and the LCD screen shows remaining clean water(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Both models feature a small LCD screen on which to display a range of information. The V15s uses this to deliver real-time reports on what's being sucked up when in vacuum mode; in mop mode, it will display the percentage of clean water available, so you know when you're running out. Unfortunately, it doesn't convey when the otherwise hidden dirty water tank is nearing full, which exacerbates the spillage issue.
The WashG1 has various modes, and uses its screen to provide a range of info(Image credit: Future)
The WashG1 uses its screen to show the hydration mode you're using, and also provides a countdown of how much battery life remains. It display graphics informing you if you need to complete any tasks – so prior to self-cleaning, it will let you know if you need to empty the solid waste tray, for example.
In terms of tank sensors, Dyson has gone the opposite way to the V15s, and will inform you when the WashG1's dirty water tank is full but not when the clean water is empty. However, you can view this for yourself because the tank on this model is mounted on the handle.
Dock
You can dock the Submarine on a wall-mounted charger, to keep it out of the way. Plus, it comes with a drip tray for when the Submarine floorhead is wet. This is useful for catching spillages when removing the mop head, too. Alternatively, certain versions of the V15s (including our review model) come with a "Floor Dok Multi", which is freestanding and includes spaces for all the different attachments.
The WashG1 has a minimal floor dock(Image credit: Future)
The WashG1 can't be wall-mounted, although to its credit, the floor dock is very minimal – only marginally bigger than the floorhead, and very lightweight.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: maintenance
WashG1 has a self-clean mode; V15s does not
Both have removable and washable rollers
WashG1 also separates solid from liquid waste for easier disposal
The V15s Submarine's mop roller is removable and fully washable. In fact, the mop floorhead comes apart and can be completely rinsed out. (For vacuuming, the dust cup is the easy-empty Dyson style one.)
On the V15s, the whole mop section can be rinsed out(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
A point of difference is that the WashG1 comes with a self-clean cycle. Taking two minutes to run, it's designed to be used after every mopping session, when you place the cleaner back on its dock. It runs clean water through the machine and uses a brush bar to clear any lingering solid debris from the rollers, then completes a no-water cycle to dry everything off a bit.
This needs to be supplemented with occasional deep cleans. For this, all the rollers can be removed and rinsed, as can the solid waste tray. The rest of the floorhead doesn't come off, though. The water tanks are large enough to get your whole hand in, making them super easy to clean, and there are no sharp corners where grime can build up.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: performance
WashG1 has multiple modes, and can handle more challenging cleans
Dirty water tank of V15s is open and spills easily when removed
WashG1's single-press operation is less fiddly than V15s' trigger
Dyson always shines when it comes to maneuverability, and both the V15s Detect Submarine and Wash G1 are easy to drive around your home and great at pivoting around furniture and getting into corners. The mop parts are motorized, so they gently propel each machine forward in use, which helps negate the effect of the extra weight added by the water tanks.
The weight is distributed differently on each machine. The V15s has a heavy vacuum motor and battery at the top, whereas much of the WashG1's weight is in the base. Operation of the WashG1 is simpler – you just press a button once, whereas on the V15s you need to compress the trigger continually as you clean.
The placement of the rollers is slightly better on the WashG1 versus the V15s Submarine. On the WashG1, the rollers fill almost the entire width and length of the floorhead, and there's a thin cover that prevents wet marks on your baseboards. On the V15s, there's slightly more of a gap along the short edges of the floorhead and the cover doesn't drop down so far at the front, meaning you can end up with damp baseboards. However, both are generally very good at getting up close to the edges of rooms.
The floorhead design is slightly better on the WashG1 (right) in terms of the roller placement(Image credit: Future)
In terms of vacuuming, the V15s Detect Submarine boasts superb suction and a very powerful motor, and the vacuuming accessories are well designed and useful. An auto mode adjusts suction based on the dirt level on the floor, for a thorough, battery-efficient clean.
Since there's no counterpoint on the WashG1, we won't get too in depth on the vacuum performance here – head direct to our Dyson V15 Detect review (the same base model) for more detail including the results of our suction tests – but the short version is we have no complaints on this front. It's one of the very best cordless vacuums on the market.
The V15s offers excellent vacuuming(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Moving on to mopping. Both the WashG1 and Dyson V15s Detect Submarine are great at tackling wet spills, small bits of debris, and mud. The WashG1 has multiple mopping modes and various rollers, which means it's better at tackling tougher messes over the Submarine, which only has one mode and one roller.
The Submarine also isn't really geared towards liquid and debris spillages – cereal and milk, for instance. If you do use it to tackle any small bits of solid waste, you'll need to make sure you clean it out thoroughly afterwards. Also bear in mind that because solids and liquids aren't separated, you'll need to account for that when getting rid of waste. The WashG1, on the other hand, helpfully splits solid and liquid, so you can pour the liquid down the sink, and throw solid waste into the trash.
This tray on the WashG1 collects solid waste(Image credit: Future)
The mop functionality of both models can tackle dust, but not as efficiently as a vacuum cleaner – so if you have only hard floors and opt for a WashG1, you might still want a vacuum cleaner in your arsenal. The Submarine, however, has a vacuum floorhead(s) for that.
Neither cleaner is especially aggressive in its agitation – neither will "scrub: your floors, nor get into grouting cracks. In addition, both are really designed for use on perfectly flat floors, rather than those that might be uneven (this is true of the vast majority of wet cleaners).
Both the WashG1 and V15s are cordless cleaners. The WashG1's maximum battery life is 35 minutes, which isn't as long as your average cordless stick vac, but remains decent. The motor will automatically pause when the handle is clicked upright, so battery isn't wasted. The V15s promises a maximum of 60 minutes of cleaning, but in vacuum mode. We don't have a record of how long it will last in mopping mode, but we'd assume at least as long as the WashG1.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: which should I buy?
Buy the Dyson WashG1 if...
You're dealing with lots of dirt
With its multiple wet cleaning modes, various rollers, and separation of solid and liquid waste, the WashG1 is set up to deal with more demanding mopping tasks and is far better at coping with messes that combine solid and liquid waste. You'll also appreciate the self-clean cycle.View Deal
You want to do lots of mopping at once
The WashG1 has far larger water tanks, so you'll be able to mop large areas without interruption. The V15s is good for maybe a large living room before you'll need to refill.View Deal
You don't want to press a trigger to clean
It might seem like a small thing, but the V15s' trigger operation is annoying in longer use – the WashG1's one-press button makes for much more comfortable cleaning.View Deal
Buy the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine if...
You're short on space
As well as combining two machines – vacuum and mop – in one, the Submarine can be wall-mounted when not in use. The WashG1 needs to dock on the floor. Do note that you'll need to store the Submarine's mop floorhead separately, though.View Deal
You also want to vacuum
The WashG1 is no good for your carpets, and even if you don't have any, if you ever wanted to also vacuum your hard floors, stairs or furniture, the V15s is more than up to the task.View Deal
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A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, February 7 (game #607).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #608) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
FAST
BUNCH
TEAM
PLAYER
SOUL
STAT
SOON
RUFFLE
LATER
GATHER
BIO
FINGER
NOW
JUNK
THEN
PUCKER
NYT Connections today (game #608) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Ballers deets
GREEN: Ruche it up
BLUE: Cometh the hour
PURPLE: Eat it
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #608) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD
GREEN: SCRUNCH, AS FABRIC
BLUE: TIME ADVERBS
PURPLE: — FOOD
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #608) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #608, are…
YELLOW: INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD BIO, PLAYER, STAT, TEAM
GREEN: SCRUNCH, AS FABRIC BUNCH, GATHER, PUCKER, RUFFLE
BLUE: TIME ADVERBS LATER, NOW, SOON, THEN
PURPLE: — FOOD FAST, FINGER, JUNK, SOUL
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
I completed today’s Connections without ever knowing what the four groups were until getting them correct – I just thought they belonged together.
It’s part of the two-tiered wonder/satisfaction/disappointment loop of this particular puzzle. You can whiz through it and still feel as if you know nothing – and I know absolutely nothing about INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD – which in turn can make you feel either blessed or as if you have gotten away with something.
I’m definitely in the latter camp. “He got away with it (until now)” is all that will need to be said in my obituary.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 7 February, game #607)
YELLOW: BE IN CHARGE OF DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD, RUN
GREEN: THINGS MADE OF RUBBER BALLOON, ERASER, GALOSH, TIRE
BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENIE IN "ALADDIN" BLUE, EARRING, LAMP, WISHES
PURPLE: RED -_ BULL, CROSS, HERRING, VELVET
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
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Windows 10 ESU will be available from November 2025 for three years
It’ll cost $61 per year, with prices doubling annually thereafter
Windows 10 is still preferred over Windows 11 by many users
With the official Windows 10 end of life deadline months away, Microsoft is still hoping users will opt to upgrade to its flagship OS, Windows 11, but it has also issued a series of notes detailing how users can continue to use the older software.
A newly-updated support document from the company has detailed the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, including costs and eligibility.
Microsoft promises its ESU will continue to provide “critical and important security updates” for a period after Windows 10 loses support - but this will come at the expense of an annual subscription.
Windows 10 ESU details revealed
In the post, Microsoft revealed devices running Windows 10 22H2 will be eligible to participate in the ESU program, but stressed this would only include important security updates and not new features, non-security updates, design change requests or general support.
Users can enrol on the ESU program via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program, and it’ll cost $61 per device for cover between November 2025 and November 2026. From thereon in, costs will double annually, but ESU membership terminates after three years. In other words, Windows 10 fans can buy themselves another three years of safe usage before they’re ultimately forced to run a potentially insecure OS or upgrade to Windows 11.
The company also added ESUs are cumulative, so you’ll need to have bought year one before upgrading to year two. If you decide at the start of the second year to get security updates, you’ll be able to join retrospectively by paying for the previous year’s coverage.
“Windows 10 PCs will continue to work, but we recommend customers upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11 using Windows Autopatch, Microsoft Intune, or transition to a new Windows 11 PC for the best, most secure computing experience," the company added.
The rose among the thorns is that Windows 10 virtual machines running in Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop will get Extended Security Updates free of charge.
However, even Microsoft’s best efforts haven’t deterred users from opting to stay on Windows 10 – the nearly-deprecated operating system accounts for 60% of all Windows installs (via Statcounter). Still, Windows 11 adoption has increased slowly in recent months to a 37% market share.
Disney Plus lost 700,00 subscribers this past quarter
This is the first time the service has posted a quarterly subscriber drop
But the service is making more revenue than ever
Disney Plus has lost 700,000 users since September 28, 2024, likely due to price increases and its password-sharing crackdown, but I have bad news for you: that’s not going to stop Disney from raising prices again. In fact, Disney’s tactics have been a complete success.
At first, it doesn’t look like a Disney win; after all, this would mark the first time it has posted a quarterly subscriber drop since the Disney Plus platform was launched. But this negative milestone isn’t significant when you get into the numbers.
Firstly, the platform now sits at 124.6 million users, down from 125.3 million, so 700,000 represents just over 0.5% of users leaving between its quarterly reports. Meanwhile, those price rises – which saw Disney Plus with ads go from $7.99 to $9.99 and the ad-free tier going up to $15.99 from $13.99 – represent a 25% and 14% hike, respectively, for each tier, so the remaining subscribers would more than cover the cost of people leaving.
(Image credit: AFM Visuals / Shutterstock.com)
But the real kicker for people hoping we could somehow convince Disney, Netflix, and the rest that price rises and password-sharing crackdowns are a bad idea is this: in researching this article, I found that Disney’s subscriber drop was from international Disney Plus users – not those in the US or Canada where these significant price hikes happened. In fact, US and Canada Disney Plus numbers rose by 800,000 this past quarter despite the hike.
So according to Disney’s earnings report, in the US and Canada, Disney Plus went from making an average of $431.2 million a month to $453.83 million, and overall, it went from $902.16 million to $940.73 million per month.
All this is to say, as loud as we all are about hating price hikes and not being able to share our passwords for free, companies are incentivized to keep doing it because, financially, it’s a clearly successful strategy. So even though Disney is expected to lose even more subscribers by its next quarterly report, don’t expect it to change course any time soon – and as much as I hate to say it, expect 2025 to include plenty more price hikes across the best streaming services, and more password sharing crackdowns too.
With M1, M2 and M3 versions of the MacBook Air and M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max versions of the MacBook Pro, it can be hard to choose. Our experts will help you find the right MacBook.
Apple has offered a patch for Ferret family malware
The malware is used in associated with the 'Contagious Interview' campaign
However some malware is still undetectable, so be on your guard
Apple has delivered a new patch on Xprotect, its on-device malware removal tool, intended to block several variants of the macOS ‘Ferret’ family of threats.
As reported by AppleInsider, the new update will counter several issues, including Ferret variants FRIENDLYFERRET_SECD, FROSTYFERRET_UI, and MULTI_FROSTYFERRET_CMDCODES.
These malware variants are reportedly used by North Korean hackers in what has been dubbed the ‘Contagious Interview’ campaign, in which criminals would create fake job openings, primarily targeting software developers or high–profile industries like defense, government departments, or aerospace. The new updates to Xprotect will help block this family of malware from Mac devices, here’s everything we know so far.
The Ferret Family
These fresh Ferret family variants have been observed by researchers to be associated with the ‘Contagious Interview’ campaign. This attack prompts targets to communicate with an interviewer through a link which would show an error message - urging victims to install or update a communication software for virtual meetings.
These ‘updates’ would be disguised as Chrome or Zoom installers, like ChromeUpdate and CameraAccess persistence modules (really FROSTYFERRET_UI). These apps install a malicious persistence agent which runs in the background and steals sensitive data from the victim.
The latest Xprotect update will block most known variants which are disguised as macOS system files - including com.apple.secd (FRIENDLYFERRET). However, not all FlexibleFerret variants can be detected, as the malware landscape evolves so quickly.
The campaign has been observed as far back as 2023, and has been attributed to the well known Lazarus hacking group, which has been observed running several malicious job campaigns to trick jobseekers into downloading malware or trojanized remote access tools.
The data these attackers can access is dependent on the device they infect. Aaron Walton, Threat Intelligence Analyst at Expel points out anyone who falls victim to an attack using their work device, unwittingly puts their organization at risk.
"Though these bad actors typically target people through job offers, it’s fairly common that the individual will run the malware on a corporate device," he notes. "The attackers often know this and use it as a means to gain information from their target organization."
Malware protection
At its origin, this is a social engineering campaign, so staying safe from these attacks is much easier if you can spot the signs. Social engineering attacks like phishing are often personalized, sometimes using information obtained from the dark web - obtained in a data breach, for example.
In this instance, the victims handed their information over as part of the ‘job application’ process, so thoroughly vetting any sites and companies you submit job applications to is really important.
Companies can't stop phishing attacks, and human error will always put organizations at risk, so to mitigate the risks every company, no matter what size, needs a robust cybersecurity strategy. Take a look at our SMB cybersecurity checklist to make sure you're covered.
"For organizations, it is important to have a strong defense-in-depth strategy—think of it as a multi-layered security fortress, where if one defense fails, another may stop the activity. That is, to defend the environment from many different angles. Employ endpoint detection, monitor networks, and empower employees to report suspicious activities", Walton comments.
As with most cyberattacks, vigilance is key. New malware threats are rising faster than ever, so being able to spot the signs can help limit the damage. If your device is suddenly much slower than normal, frequently crashes, or randomly reboots those are all signs that your device may be infected.
Another tell-tale sign is persistent pop-ups. These often bogus ads are pretty harmless themselves, but clicking on them might take you to a malicious site, and the ads are often a sign your device is infected. For a more detailed explanation of what to look for, check out our guide here.
For anyone who thinks this may apply to them, check out our list for the best antivirus software, which can be really helpful in locating and removing malware, as well as protecting against repeat infections.
If you do find malware on your device, make sure to remove the infected program immediately. Alongside this, it’s a good idea to disconnect from the internet to prevent the malware from spreading.
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Dell'Oro group issues latest Broadband Access & Home Networking 5-Year Forecast Report
Amongst its findings was the focus of Chinese telcos on FTTR (fiber to the room) and 50Gbps PON deployments
50G is a relatively new technology, and I've been surprised by the speed at which this is rolling out
China is advancing its broadband infrastructure with its rollout of 50G-PON, a next-generation fiber technology capable of delivering speeds of up to 50Gbps (50,000 Mbps) downstream.
A newly published report by Dell’Oro Group, which gathers information from conversations with equipment vendors and publicly released tender award notifications, projects that PON equipment revenue will grow from $10.5 billion in 2024 to $12.1 billion by 2029.
While this growth will be driven largely by 10Gbps XGS-PON deployments in North America, EMEA, and CALA, China’s 50G-PON deployments place it ahead of the rest of the world. Last year, Omdia forecast that China will be the only commercial market for 50G-PON in 2024 and 2025, accounting for 93 percent of the global market and generating $1.55 billion in revenue by 2027.
Fiber to the Room
PON, or Passive Optical Network, is a fiber-optic technology that enables multiple users to share a single fiber connection using passive optical splitters. This design reduces the need for active electronic components between the provider and end users, lowering infrastructure costs, reducing power consumption, and improving network efficiency.
The 50G-PON ITU-T standard supports theoretical speeds of up to 50 Gbps downstream and up to 25 Gbps upstream, though current real-world deployments in China - led by China Telecom, its regional branch Shanghai Telecom, and ZTE - typically provide 10 Gbps all-optical access.
Beyond 50G-PON, China is also expanding Fiber to the Room (FTTR), which extends fiber-optic connectivity to individual rooms within homes and businesses. Unlike traditional fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) setups, which typically deliver fiber to a central modem and then rely on Ethernet or Wi-Fi for distribution, FTTR brings fiber-optic cables directly to each room, ensuring faster speeds, lower latency, and more stable connections.
Other highlights from Dell’Oro Group’s report include that cable distributed access equipment revenue will peak at $1.3 billion in 2028 as operators continue DOCSIS 4.0 and early fiber deployments.
Fixed wireless CPE is expected to reach its highest revenue in 2025 and 2026, driven by 5G sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave units, while Wi-Fi 7 residential routers and broadband CPE with WLAN are projected to generate $8.9 billion by 2029 as adoption grows among consumers and service providers.
“Quietly, broadband access networks are evolving into large-scale edge compute platforms, with the ability to enable service convergence far more quickly and easily than ever before,” said Jeff Heynen, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group.
“This evolution means that the revenue mix for broadband equipment is shifting over the next five years, with spending on traditional hardware and software now being supplemented by spending on AI and machine learning tools to facilitate convergence and service reliability.”
Rumor has it there’ll be a press event for AMD RX 9070 GPUs at the end of February
This should be a big reveal, hopefully complete with pricing details
It makes sense that it’d come just ahead of a confirmed on-sale date of March for the RX 9070 and its XT sibling
AMD’s RX 9070 models might be formally announced later in February, a new rumor suggests, ahead of the scheduled March arrival for these graphics cards.
Harukaze5719 on X noticed that Benchlife, a Chinese tech site, posted this info in a story that was primarily about Nvidia’s incoming RTX 5070 GPUs, which will be direct rivals for the RX 9070 cards. (Although AMD’s next-gen GPUs are potential RTX 5070 killers, if some rumors are right).
AMD will hold a press conference for the RX 9000 series based on the RDNA 4 GPU architecture at the end of Februaryhttps://t.co/FfHPjpawVbFebruary 4, 2025
We’re told that the current plan is for AMD to “hold a press conference for the Radeon RX 9000 series” at the end of February, but the exact details are still to be confirmed.
I’d advise a thick coating of seasoning with this one due to the way the nugget of info is crowbarred in at the end of the article, and the fact that this is translated. Also, Benchlife isn’t top of our list of reliable sites for rumors, but that said, it has got things right in the past – and this makes some sense, as I’ll discuss next.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Analysis: Pricing details for RDNA 4, ASAP, please
The way this rumor is phrased (again, remember the translation leaves some room for doubt) is that things still sound rather up in the air for RDNA 4. However, it is AMD’s intention to debut these RX 9070 GPUs in March as that has been formally announced as an on-sale date, not just a reveal.
Team Red subsequently noted that more time was being taken to hone elements like GPU drivers and FSR 4 support, as well as ensuring healthier stock levels for the RX 9070s, which sounds like a good idea to me, particularly given how the Nvidia Blackwell launch has gone (terribly, stock-wise).
If we are looking at March for the RX 9070 graphics cards to be on shelves, some kind of formal announcement should come before that (AMD has promised a launch event too – indeed, it was rumored for late January at one point). And so a late February timeframe does make sense in that light, but we still need to maintain an appropriate level of skepticism here.
The big hope is that we’ll get some pricing details with that reveal in possibly a few weeks’ time, as those MSRPs will be absolutely key in how these RDNA 4 graphics cards stack up to Nvidia’s RTX 5070 models. Although AMD has made another promise here, too, namely that RDNA 4 will be very competitively priced, and so we can hope the RX 9070 models will really pack a value punch in the mid-range of the GPU spectrum.
Right now, all we have is a lot of promises, though. We just need to hope that they manifest into a reality of AMD gunning for Nvidia’s mid-range Blackwell offerings in a big way, as that should force Team Green to be more competitive, too.
The rumors suggest that the console will utilize AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 Radeon RX 9070 GPU
This could provide some much-needed competition within the home console market
Valve’s Steam is the topic of the day yet again - and no, it’s not regarding the Steam Deck 2 rumor that was recently shot down by Valve - but rather another rumor that further hints at the gaming giant becoming a true force in the hardware market.
As reported by Wccftech, the new rumor stems from HandleDeck on X (relayed by a Spanish leaker known as extas1s) and suggests Valve is currently working on a 'Steam console', which could use AMD’s new RDNA 4 Radeon RX 9070 GPU. No, this probably isn't a triumphant return of the failed Steam Machines.
This would be huge, as it could mean gamers would have the option of a hybrid gaming console/PC experience since it would likely adopt the Steam Deck’s SteamOS - the PS5 and Xbox Series X already both use RDNA 2 architecture, so this would be great competition for both Sony and Microsoft - if it's true, of course. Based on the rumors of FSR 4 being exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs, it could spell great news for those looking for the latest and greatest away gaming performance from Nvidia’s hardware.
The reasoning behind this suggestion is that Valve is reportedly working on driver support for the RX 9070 GPU - considering that GPU's supposedly midrange market position (which, granted, we can't clarify until it actually launches), it wouldn’t be too far of a possibility here. Again, this is still just a rumor so take it with a hefty pinch of salt, but since the Steam Deck 2 isn’t coming anytime soon, it would make sense that this is what Valve is targeting next.
This could be the necessary push Sony needs regarding the PlayStation 5
For a long while now, Sony has pushed forward with certain decisions that haven’t sat well with fans - notably its recent mid-generation upgrade with the PS5 Pro, with many gamers upset by its $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199 price tag. In my opinion, there haven't been many truly jaw-dropping games during the PS5 era (especially compared to the PS4’s large collection of blockbuster titles), and this is doubly evident with the numerous remasters and remakes for games that simply don’t need that treatment.
With a Steam console, players would have access to a bigger library of games (thanks to the Steam storefront), and this even includes some former PlayStation exclusives that have now made their way to PC. We’ve heard rumors and suggestions that highly anticipated titles like GTA 6 aren’t guaranteed to run at 60fps on the PS5, too.
If a Steam console launches with a powerful CPU to tag alongside AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 GPU, this will certainly give the PS5 a run for its money, and leave Sony forced to step up its game - so I'm really hoping that there's a grain of truth to this particular rumor.
