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Apple has just unveiled a bunch of new MacBook Pro models, equipped with the shiny new M2 Pro and M2 Max processors. You can read about the 14-inch model here, but in this article, we’re going to be examining the bigger (and more expensive) 16-inch version.

Thanks to the newly powered-up M2 Pro and Max chips, we can definitely expect the 2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch to make its way onto our list of the best MacBooks and Macs, not unlike the mighty MacBook Pro 13-inch (2022), which didn’t have those chips – instead using the standard M2 SoC found in the MacBook Air (2022).

Samsung is dropping hints that its next Galaxy Book Windows laptop, expected at Unpacked on February 1, will get the Ultra treatment, similar to the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet and the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra phone. That likely means an S Pen on board, since Samsung shut down its Note family of devices to focus on Ultra. We could also see improved cameras as well as a sky-high price tag. 

In a blog post from TM Roh, President and Head of the Mobile eXperiences (MX) Business, Samsung digs deep into what the evolution from Note to Ultra branded devices means. Roh cites performance and camera capabilities, then says that “Ultra means big.”

The latest firmware update for MSI motherboards broke a major security feature, putting countless computers at risk of malware (opens in new tab) and other threats, a security expert has claimed.

Researcher Dawid Potocki discovered the recently-released firmware update version 7C02v3C changed the default Secure Boot setting on MSI motherboards, allowing the boot process to run even software that is unsigned, or that has had its signature changed due to modifications. 

The HomePod 2 has yet again been teased to be getting a 2023 launch, but even with details thin on the ground, we’re not convinced that this speaker will fare any better than its failed predecessor.

Apple’s attempt at making one of the best smart speakers, the original HomePod, was a very impressive device. It boasted amazing sound quality, an attractive design, and a decent voice assistant; but its high price seemed to put a lot of people off, and after only three years on sale it was discontinued. The HomePod mini has stuck around, but you’d be forgiven for not knowing it exists, as Apple doesn’t seem to mention it very often.

That could all change in 2023 however, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (opens in new tab) – who has a solid track record when it comes to Apple leaks – claiming that a new HomePod should be “coming fairly soon.” 

However, while an imminent Apple product launch always brings with it an air of excitement, we can’t help but feel that the HomePod 2 is destined to be another disappointment for the tech giant.

The problem with the HomePod 2 

One major advantage that the new HomePod is expected to have over the original is a more competitive price. When the first HomePod launched it came out at a weighty $349 / £319 / AU$499, which was more expensive than its rivals’ most luxurious offerings, like the $229 / £219 / $349 Google Nest Hub Max and the $199.99 / £189.99 / AU$329 Amazon Echo Studio.

That said, even if it’s priced more in line with those other premium smart speakers, a price around $200 / £200 / AU$300 still likely sits outside a lot of people’s budgets. Moreover, the HomePod 2 will also be a tough sell when put up against Amazon and Google’s much cheaper devices – speakers that clock in at around $50 / £50 / AU$80 (or even less when they’re on sale).

Following a recent update to Apple’s terms and conditions, people are noticing that their Apple TV is now blocked in certain ways if they don’t have an iPhone, because Apple is requiring you to approve the T&Cs on your phone, and not offering an alternative option.

One of the great things about the Apple TV 4K – and a huge part of why we’re happy to rate it as the best streaming device around – is that it’s never been too tied to the Apple ecosystem.

Qbot has become the most prevalent banking trojan around, taking the top spot from Emotet, new figures have claimed.

According to fresh figures from the Check Point Global Threat Index for December 2022, Qbot (also known as Qakbot) impacted 7% of organizations worldwide, retaking the number one spot from Emotet (4%).

There are only two ‘Friday the 13th’s in 2023, and the first has already seen Microsoft scrambling to fix an issue that affected users’ Start menus and taskbars following a botched update to its Defender antivirus.

Following the mishap, Microsoft took to the Internet to confirm (opens in new tab) that many users had experienced “a series of false positive detections” for the “Block Win32 API calls from Office macro” Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rule, leading to many program shortcuts (.lnk files) vanishing.

The digital systems used to inform and protect the McLaren F1 and esports teams are seeing a significant boost from using AI and machine learning to help get a leap on the competition.

From telemetry to cybersecurity, the amount of data harvested in Formula 1 is colossal, and understanding that often very complex data is crucial, especially in an environment where speed is of the utmost importance. 

Apple has announced its latest silicon for professional users, the Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max, and Apple is promising some seriously improved performance with this second-generation.

With the phenomenal success of Apple’s move to its own silicon in 2020, it’s not surprising at all to see that it is following up the M1 Pro and M1 Max. Those chips powered some of the best laptops ever produced, the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) and MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021).

Hackers are utilizing a known vulnerability in device monitoring tool Cacti to install all sorts of malware (opens in new tab) on vulnerable endpoints, researchers have claimed. 

Cybersecurity researchers from The Shadowserver Foundation spotted multiple attempts at delivering various malware via the critical command injection vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2022-46169.