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The streamlining of the Surface lineup continues, as Microsoft sticks with what it knows will work.
Microsoftis no longer producing theSurface Laptop Studio 2, its most powerful laptop that folds forward to create an easel. There are no rumors of a Surface Laptop Studio 3, suggesting that Microsoft is cutting the hybrid laptop — the only one with a discrete GPU — from its lineup.
The news comes fromThe Verge, which reports that the Laptop Studio 2 ended production earlier this month, and that the system will be pronounced as “end of life” next month.
Resellers confirmed toThe Vergethat Microsoft ceased manufacturing and would continue to provide software and driver updates for the Surface Laptop Studio 2.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is being put out to pasture quietly, much like other devices that the company has sunset. The Surface Studio, a desktop PC that folded down into a creative studio for drawing, wasformally discontinued in Decemberwithout a successor. Microsoft’s audio products, the Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds, have also quietly disappeared.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s discontinuance comes at a hazy time for the Surface brand. On the one hand, two new devices — theSurface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch— were just announced and are set to release next week. On the other hand, the lineup lost its champion,former chief Panos Panay, who left Microsoft forAmazonin 2023,reportedly over budget issuesand product cancellations. Panay wassucceeded by Pavan Davuluri.
Since Panay’s departure, the lineup has been cut down to just the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and the Surface Go 4, the latter of which is only sold to business customers at the moment.
Without the Surface Laptop Studio, Microsoft has removed systems with discrete GPUs from its hardware lineup, potentially alienating creatives and gamers. Prior to the Surface Laptop Studio, Microsoft’s powerhouse system was the Surface Book, which combined a tablet with a base featuring a discrete GPU.
Besides featuring raw horsepower, the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Book were also fairly unique designs that attempted to push system designs forward. Clamshell laptops are table stakes, and many OEMs offer their own versions of the Surface Pro’s tablet design. It seems that Microsoft is experimenting less and focusing more on what it knows already works.
Microsoft has been streamlining other areas, too, including its own workforce. This week, the company cut about 6,000 employees, or approximately 3% of its workforce. The company is also focusing more on AI (in Windows and elsewhere), and putting its Xbox Studios games on other systems, like the PlayStation 5.
When we reviewed the Surface Laptop Studio 2, we praised Microsoft for adding ports over the original, while prioritizing quiet operation and a bright display. But the company had used a lower-power GPU capped at 80W of power, and the system was expensive.
The best of the XM4 and XM5 in one new pair of cans
Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while levelling up the sonic and ANC capabilities of what came before. With super-clean touch controls, an ultra-comfy fit and a ton of features at your disposal, there’s a lot to love about these headphones, even if they do come at quite the cost.
TheSonyWH-1000XM6 are here to try to cement Sony’s status as the go-to brand for headphones, three years after the release of its previous flagship model.
Sony says that the WH-1000XM6 are “the best noise cancelling product on the market” as well as being “improved in every single way” over previous models – talk about setting a high bar. But thankfully, they manage to jump that bar on almost every metric.
As you may expect, the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer expressive and clean audio from a new 30mm driver alongside a new QN3 processor, featuring a ‘noise shaper’ that levels up digital to analogue conversion and pre-empts sudden sound changes, resulting in a more controlled listening experience. There’s also a more balanced sound signature out of the gate, which doesn’t compromise on punchy bass, rich mids or energetic treble.
The new QN3 processor also harnesses the power of 12 microphones – four more than last time – to serve up truly incredible noise cancelling capabilities. These supply better ANC than the majority of thebest noise cancelling headphonesout there. Yes, they even stand up to the critically acclaimedBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which have ruled the noise cancelling roost since their launch. When on public transport, walking near traffic or working away in the office, I had either near-silence or total silence, enabling me to indulge in beautifully isolated listening sessions.
But that’s not all. There are a ton more features to get your teeth sunk into via Sony’s Sound Connect app. There’s adaptive sound control, LDAC and DSEE Extreme, extensive EQ options, Cinema mode for immersive audio, and Auracast – among others. Almost everything you could want from a premium pair of cans is here, all in one place.
On top of that, there’s an updated design, which compiles the best of what theSony WH-1000XM5and theSony WH-1000XM4had to offer. See, foldability is back from the XM4 era, and I think the majority of people will be grateful for that.
There are new, more durable hinges (the XM5 had a hinge issue) and a slightly smaller magnetic carry case as well. But the sleeker look of the XM5 has still been largely maintained.
There’s an evolution of what came before too, with a wider headband for increased comfort and a more snug fit around the neck when the headphones are out of use. Overall, you’re getting a fantastic combination of style and comfort, though some may still feel that the earcups are atadchunky.
Other incremental improvements include the ability to charge while streaming over Bluetooth, refined touch controls and better call quality. And when all the little adjustments come together, it’s clear – these are thebest Sony headphonesproduced to date.
Still, there are a few areas in which the WH-1000XM6 fall just short of their rivals. You get 30 hours of battery life with ANC, which is by no means bad, but lots of rivals (even much cheaper ones) beat that, and some can double it.
On top of that, they are quite expensive. At $449 / £399 / AU$699, these are $50 / £20 / AU$50 pricier than their predecessors were at launch. And given the WH-1000XM5 are now widely available for around $300 / £250, some may be a little tentative at taking the plunge on Sony’s newest flagship headphones.
Finally, the newly releasedBowers & Wilkins Px7 S3are the same price in the UK (US release and pricing tbc), but soundeven betterthan these Sony over-ears. Sure, they don’t quite match the XM6 on ANC or features overall, but they’re clearly better sound for the price.
All in all, though, the Sony WH-1000XM6 still have a strong claim to be some of thebest headphonesaround, with their noise-crushing ANC being the real highlight. Their treasure trove of features and talented audio performance also help them to stand tall in a convoluted market, and the design tweaks meld all the highlights from their ancestral lineage. Sure, they’re pricey, but if you’re willing to splash the cash, you’ll almost certainly love Sony’s latest release.
CP1254-A4 Battery for Sony WF-1000X WF-1000XM3 WF-SP700N
Sony WH-1000XM6 review: price & release date
$449 / £400 / AU$699
Launched on May 15th, 2025
The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched in May 2025, three years after the preceeding WH-1000XM5 model. Sony is unclear on the exact release date at the time of publishing, stating just that they’ll be available “from May” in the UK/US, while Sony Australia says you can get them “from June 2025. Pre-order available from May 16th, 2025.”
At launch, they’re available in three colorways: Black; Silver; and Midnight Blue. However, there could be scope for more color variants in the future – we saw theXM5 adopt a new Smoky Pink only back in September 2024.
At the point of release, the Sony WH-1000XM6 cost $449 / £399 / AU$699. That’s $50 / £20 more than their predecessors launched at. This price puts Sony’s flagship cans up against the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 – more on those later, but basically they’reverymuch in the premium range.
Despite the slight price bump over their predecessors, these are still notably cheaper than theApple AirPods Max– which have a huge list price of $549 / £549 / AU$899.
Battery life may not wow, but in-use charging is now here
When I attended the launch of the Sony WH-1000XM6, Sony described its new flagship headphones as “the best noise-cancelling product on the market”. And the ANC is far and away the standout feature these headphones have in their arsenal.
You’re getting some of the best noise cancellation that any headphones can offer with the XM6. ANC has been improved over the XM5 thanks to Sony’s new QN3 noise cancelling processor, which harnesses twelve microphones to shut out the world around you.
Even when compared to the awesome Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the XM6 perform exceptionally well. I tried both pairs of headphones while vacuuming my home and walking in high-traffic areas, among other tasks, and each dealt with external noise fantastically.
But in my experience, the XM6 performed ever so slightly better, producing a minimum of near-silence from the outside at 60-70% volume in each test. Rest assured – these really are the real deal as far as ANC is concerned.
I also tested the XM6’s noise cancelling capabilities at Sony’s 5020 studio in Madrid, before doing real-world testing. While there, I played a song at about 50% volume with a bunch of people chatting around me and the outside world was totally shut out – it was just me and my music. At one stage, a super-harsh static sound was blasted at the studio and that slightly crept through. It was dampened severely, though, and I was barely disturbed.
If you want to be more aware of your surroundings – fear not – there’s a very fleshed-out Ambient Sound mode. This includes a slider that ranges from 1 to 20 and lets more exterior noise seep through the higher you go. On top of that, there’s a voice passthrough checkbox, which filters through speech while still suppressing other noises.
Ambient mode worked very nicely for me; I could easily hear the sound of typing in my office, murmurs from a nearby conversation and doors opening. Also, it’s worth noting Auto Ambient Sound mode, which adjusts volume of ambient sounds depending on noise levels around you.
But another one of my favorite features on the Sony WH-1000XM6 is their excellent touch controls. Something that may seem gimmicky, but is actually incredibly helpful, is that you can cup your hand over the right earcup to smoothly, yet drastically reduce media volume and dampen noise cancelling effects.
This isn’t new to the XM6, but it’s really worth highlighting. I found it incredibly useful in an office environment when a colleague wanted to talk with me, or if I was in a story and didn’t want to rip the cans off. In fact, I didn’t even bother turning on the Speak-to-Chat function, because this option is so responsive.
Generally, the XM6 have the most consistent, intuitive touch controls I’ve ever used on a pair of headphones. On the right earcup, you can slide your finger up or down and hold it in position to continually raise or lower volume respectively. That’s an improvement over the XM5, which required you to constantly flick up or down to amend loudness.
You can also double tap to pause music and flick forwards or backwards to skip or return to the previous track. Touch controls are locked to the right earcup only, much like the WH-1000XM5 model.
And there are plenty of returning features from the previous model to enjoy. Of course, you’ve got the likes of multi-point connectivity, wear detection and a good app in Sony Sound Connect.
But there’s more: adaptive sound control, which adjusts audio output depending on your environment and movement; head gesture monitoring for taking or rejecting calls; and voice assistant compatibility.
There are a few new nuggets to uncover as far as features go, however. Perhaps one of the biggest inclusions isAuracast. This is a type of Bluetooth technology that enables you to tune into an audio broadcast transmitted from a phone, TV or similar device without any pairing.
Furthermore, you can now mute the mic on the XM6 by simply double pressing the noise cancelling button. You’ll need to enable this in settings, but it’s ultra useful when on aMicrosoftTeams or Slack call, for instance.
There’s only one real area where the Sony WH-1000XM6 failed to impress me as far as features: its battery life. You’re getting 30 hours of playtime from this model, which is by no means bad – it’s the same you’ll get on the XM5 and a whole host of rivals. But there are some cans that are capable of more. TheSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, for example, can go 60 hours with ANC on – now that’s impressive.
Still, you can charge the XM6 while using them now, and even get three hours of playtime from just three minutes of charging – that is if you have a USB PD charger around.
If you’re looking for over-ears with highly astute call quality, you can trust the XM6 to deliver. The strongest example of this was a demo at Sony’s 5020 Studio in Madrid, in which someone make a call in an artificially noisy environment – and after placing the XM6 on, their voice was totally separated from clamoring and noise littering their surroundings.
In my real-world use, my own speech came through cleanly when making phone calls to family and friends, with vocals sounding crisp. That’s in part thanks to the additional beamforming mics used on the XM6 – there are six this time and they help to shift focus towards the mouth – while AI also enters the fray to scoop out external sounds.
DSEE extreme and LDAC for improved Bluetooth streaming
Default tuning is great, but great EQ options also available
Like their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM6 use a 30mm driver, rather than the larger 40mm one used for the legendary XM4 model. But the driver itself is new and improved, designed to offer more balanced audio across all frequencies.
That QN3 processor I mentioned earlier also includes a ‘noise shaper’, which refines digital to analogue conversion and enables the cans to anticipate sudden sound changes, intended to reduce distortion and produce a more controlled listening experience.
So, yes, there’s plenty of flashy new tech in the XM6 headphones, but do they actually deliver a premium audio performance? Short answer: yes. You’ll get a rhythmic, detailed, and well-balanced listen with the Sony WH-1000XM6 that still doesn’t skimp on punchy bass and exciting treble output. And that’s regardless of whether you’re listening with ANC turned on or off.
For instance, I tuned intoFluffyby Himiko Kikuchi – a laid-back jazzy track – and expressive piano sounded pleasantly forward, while full-sounding smooth bass and tightly controlled percussion accompanied subtle strings dancing through the track.
The balanced output across all frequencies is really pleasing, and there does seem to be a bit less emphasis on the low-end compared to Sony’s previous pair of flagship cans – at least out of the box.
The default EQ calibration is certainly even enough to ensure you can hear those finer details across the frequency range. No need to worry about overbearing bass, harsh treble or overly recessed mids.
When tuning intoI Want Youby Moloko, I was struck by the breathy vocals, impactful and response cymbal hits and pumping, yet disciplined bass output. This song adds instrument after instrument as it unfolds, resulting in a densely layered climax. Yet the XM6 had the capability to keep things in check, maintaining clear, distortion-free audio throughout.
There’s some incredibly stiff competition for Sony’s new headphones. I tested out a number of rivals, including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.
Vocals and some finer details sounded slightly clearer on the XM6 compared to Bose’s effort, though the latter did still sound great considering you can now regularly scoop them up for closer to $350 / £350.
The Px7 S3 launched mere weeks before the XM6 at essentially the same price-point (at least in the UK) and I found they had a slightly more luxury sound. They could lift vocals out of the mix and push them forwards a little more precisely than the XM6, and their open, spatial-sounding audio output was truly hypnotizing.
You get slightly better ANC from the Sony XM6, plus I found the Sony cans to be more comfortable – but if we’re talking pure sound, you could do a little better for the same price.
But still, there are plenty of ways to get a sound that matches your style with the XM6. To truly adapt them to your palate, head over to Sony’s Sound Connect app and get playing with EQ adjustment.
You have a few options here: Find Your Equalizer, which lets you pick the sound signature that suits your tastes best; presets, including Heavy, Clear and Game; or custom EQ, which lets you manually create your own calibration with a 10-band equalizer.
And there’s even more to experiment with in the Sound Connect app that can elevate your listening to the next level. Specifically, you get access to DSEE Extreme, a technology that up-mixes lower quality audio files to bring out the most detailed, quality-sounding audio possible. This works really well on music platforms such as Spotify, which is yet to offer higher-resolution streaming.
There’s also LDAC, which enables you to access ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth listening. And if you want to keep it old-school, there’s also a 3.5mm port on the headphones, as well as a cable in the box so you can engage in wired listening.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are designed for more than just music listening, though. There’s improved width to the XM6’s soundstage, which is useful if you’re watching movies or TV series on your phone, for instance. And on top of that, there’s a cinema listening mode, which harnesses Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Upmix and can convert a stereo signal into an immersive, wraparound sonic experience.
I tried watchingThe Boy and the Heronon Netflix in Cinema mode and was impressed by the expansiveness and directionality of audio. Voices, for instance, may not have been as crystal clear as Standard mode, but if immersion is what you’re chasing, it’s well worth checking out.
There’s also a Background Music option, which can make your music sound as if it’s playing in a café or living room. Spatial audio and head tracking are included too – but will only work on certain devices that support Android’s built-in head tracking, and this doesn’t includeSamsungphones (and obviously rules outAppledevices).
Sound quality score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Sony WH-1000XM6 review: design
Foldability is back and better than before
Ultra-comfortable headband
Some may find them to be a little bulky
New magnetic case is much more convenient
The WH-1000XM6 may not look drastically different to their predecessor, but Sony’s made a handful of small tweaks that I really appreciate.
Stitching on the front of the headband is gone in favor of a smoother, more premium look, and the headband itself is a little wider for improved comfort.
The earcups also fit more seamlessly around the neck in a downward facing position, which is super useful if you’re on the go or just need to stop for a chat.
There’s one major difference between the XM6 and the XM5, though, and that’s the reintroduction of a folding headband. Controversially, the XM5 ditched this in favor of a single-hinge, slimmer look – but XM4 fans, it’s your lucky day.
There are new, more durable hinges on the XM6 that enable them to neatly fold into a new magnetically closed carry case – this isn’t the smallest or the most flashy, but is still assembled to a high standard.
They also don’t fold up as compactly as headphones like theMarshall Monitor III ANCorAnker Soundcore Space One Pro, say, so are not quite pocketable – but it’s nice to packing in a bag.
But how do the headphones look and feel in-use? Pretty good all round! They’ve been designed in a way that makes them appear more straight on your head, rather than curved inward. That wider headband I mentioned also goes a long way in improving comfort for multi-hour listening sessions. Pair that with beautifully padded earcups and easily accessible buttons and there’s not much more I could ask for.
There are a few minor things I don’t loveabout the design of the XM6, though. First of all, the earcups look quite bulky, meaning you’re not getting the most sleek, stylish look compared to something like theSonos Ace.
The color options, while classy, also feel a little bit safe. I would’ve liked to see a more vibrant option thrown in there, or even the Smoky Pink variant – which was released as a late addition to the XM5 lineup – available from the get-go.
Finally, there’s still no waterproofing on this new model. That’s usually the case for over-ear headphones, but it would’ve been nice to see Sony lead the way with some kind of water resistance rating.
All in all, though, there’s still so much to love about the XM6 design-wise. They have a premium-looking, almost paper-like matte consistency to the casing’s finish. And they’re nice and light once again, weighing in at just 254g.
There are two physical buttons – one to turn the headphones off and on or pair via Bluetooth and one to toggle between noise cancelling modes or mute the mic during calls.
Design score: 4.5/5
Sony WH-1000XM6 review: value
A very premium price, no question
Truly awesome noise cancelling and great audio quality
Best of both worlds from previous two gens
Let’s address the elephant in the room. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a pricey pair of headphones. And they’re also more expensive than their predecessor at launch. Yep, these come in at $449 / £400 / AU$699, which is $50 / £20 / AU$50 more than the XM5 at the point of release.
Of course, there have been economic issues for Sony and co to deal with, and there are a number of significant improvements on this model. But nonetheless, it’s a lot to pay for some over-ears considering there are so many excellent competitors floating around for considerably less.
For example, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra – which offer incredible noise cancelling capabilities, adept audio and a nice selection of smart features – are now more than a year-old, so you can find them on sale for under $350 / £350 pretty regularly. That’s a great deal less than the new XM6.
Even the WH-1000XM5 are now widely sold for around $300 / £250. And spending that extra $150 / £150 to get the newest instalment, won’t be a clear-cut decision for everyone, though I think the XM6 make the case for themselves.
But let’s give the XM6 their flowers. In terms of ANC, it really doesn’t get much better than this. You get top-tier isolation as well as fantastic sound quality, a boat-load of features and a design that marries the best of the XM4 and XM5 together. Sure, you may prefer the Bowers & Wilkins Px& S3 for sound, but the WH-1000XM6 are still, undoubtedly, among 2025’s verybest over-ear headphones.
Value score: 4/5
Buy them if…
You want incredible noise cancellation The Sony WH-1000XM6 plate up seriously impressive noise cancellation capabilities. Seriously, I could barely hear anything other than my favorite tunes when using these cans, even when walking in areas with heavy traffic or while vacuuming. If you’re sick of hearing the clicking and clacking of the train on your daily commute – or maybe your neighbor’s non-stop DIY projects, it might be time to snap these cans up.
You want top-tier features These Sony cans supply no end of features to mess around with. You get adaptive noise cancelling, cinema upmixing, ‘hi-res’ music streaming options, Find Your Equalizer… need I say more? Pretty much everything you could ever want from some headphones is at your fingertips with the XM6. Just download the Sound Connect app and you’re off.
Don’t buy them if…
You’re on a budget At $450 / £400, these over-ears are hardly wallet-friendly. You can get a lot of the features from the XM5 for far less, and there are some awesome affordable options out there such as the1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51, which pack ANC, solid sound and wonderful battery life for less than $100 / £100.
You want bundles of playtime Now don’t get me wrong, 30 hours of playtime with ANC on isn’t too bad. It’s just not anything special either. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless deliver an astonishingly high 60-hour battery life. And that’s with ANC on!
Suddenly LUTs are everywhere, but exactly what is a LUT? They’ve been in video editors for years but now they’re in cameras and even photo editors
What is a LUT? It’s like an instant conversion profile that can be used to correct colors and tones but can also be used for creative effects(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
If you’re wondering what is a LUT, you’re not alone – the phrase has only entered the mainstream imaging lexicon fairly recently, but it has certainly spread like wildfire.
LUT is an abbreviation. It stands for lookup table, a rather dry and dusty definition that doesn’t even hint at what LUTs can do. And while they’re primarily used by video folks, they can also be employed in photography post-production as well.
They have two main uses in videography and editing/grading. One is to convert images from one color space or profile to another – for example, if you’ve shot in aSonylog profile and you need to convert that to a regular color space for editing and sharing.
The second, increasingly popular use, is to apply creative tonal and color shifts for stylized ‘looks’.
LUTs are not just another type of picture style or simulation. They are, very literally, conversion tables that take pixel values from the original image or video, and change them to other pixel values with various tone and color shifts.
If you’re into color-managed desktop printing, you’ll be familiar with custom ‘printer profiles’ and ‘monitor profiles’. It’s a bit like that, but often used for creative purposes, not just color correction.
For this explanation I’ll stick to ‘creative’ LUTs, since this is the major trend right now. The way they work means you can shift colors and tones in any direction you like, for cross-processing effects, black-and-white filter effects and just about any other effect you can carry out with color and tone adjustments.
There are no sliders or adjustments with LUTs; they just do what they do. There are tools you can use to design your own LUTs, such asfylm.ai, for example.
This is probably a job for color grading experts, though, because there are many subtleties involved in producing effective and attractive color and tonal shifts that can be applied across a range of images/videos.
That’s the first thing to know about LUTs. It sounds a limitation, but a properly-designed LUT can be a friend for life. Once you start trying them out you will quickly find favorites that you will want to use again and again.
But perhaps the key point about LUTs is that they use a standardized .cube format that can be used across multiple devices and editors. You could load a LUT that you love in yourvideo editing softwareinto yourPanasonic Lumix S9, for example, or use the same LUT in yourphoto editing software.
Not all photo editors support LUTs, and some use them (incorrectly) as an effect filter mixed in with the other editing tools. It’s best to think of LUTs as a kind of pre-processing treatment ahead of your actual editing. If you work inLightroomyou’ll be familiar with Profiles, which do a similar job – though it would be nice if Lightroom used LUTs instead!
So are LUTs the future? For videographers, they are an important technical and creative tool. For stills photographers, presets and filters do the same job with a little more control – but even here, once you’ve found some favorite LUTs, there’s often no going back.
Fitbit has announced three new features for users of its wearables: Medical record navigator, Symptom check and Unusual trends. These tools are currently available for some users to test as part of the Fitbit Labs program. The company notes that only some users are currently eligible and invited to join via the app.
Fitbit is allowing some users to test three new features in its ap
Fitbit has announced three new features, which are available throughFitbit Labs. This is an app-based testing program available for some users, allowing them to try out and get feedback on upcoming functionality.
The first feature is the Medical record navigator. It is said to help users to understand complex lab records, presumably like the results of a blood test. Users can upload an image or PDF of a report to the Fitbit app, with Gemini providing a summary in layman’s terms. There is also a new Symptom checker allowing users to describe how they feel. Examples prompts provided in the blog post include “my head hurts” and “I feel tired”. Users may then be asked some follow-up questions, with the tool offering an explanation of their symptoms.
Finally, Unusual trends is another new health-tracking feature. It helps you to spot instances where your health is below your baseline, looking at metrics like resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep. For all three of these new tools, Fitbit makes it clear that they cannot diagnose or prevent any medical conditions, encouraging users to seek medical advice if these tools flag anything out of the ordinary.
If you are eligible, you will see Fitbit Labs in the ‘You’ and ‘Today’ tabs for the Fitbit app or through a ‘Now’ card. These customers will either be able to start testing immediately or join the waiting list. It is worth noting that, by signing up, you must agree to share data for research and development purposes. If you cannot see the Fitbit Labs section in the app, then you are likely to be ineligible for the time being. However, Fitbit notes that these trials may become available to more users in the future. It remains to be seen when the new Fitbit Medical record navigator, Symptom checker and Unusual trends tools will officially launch for all users.
SD cards are useful for a variety of electronic devices like portable gaming consoles and DSLR cameras. While buying an SD card may seem straightforward, it’s crucial to pay attention to its specifications. Sure, storage capacity is a key factor you should consider, but it isn’t the only one. If you are going to use the SD card for recording video, for example, you should look for markings like V30 or similar on the label. But what does V30 on an SD card actually mean?
The V in V30 stands for Video Speed Class, and the number represents the minimum continuous write speed that the SD card can maintain in MB/s. So, V30 on an SD card means it has a minimum continuous write speed of 30 MB/s. You can also find other speed classes such as V6, V10, V60, and V90. A high Video Speed Class essentially indicates that the SD card is capable of handling high-resolution video recording, including features like 360-degree capture and VR content.
Specifications like V30 are important because they allow you to determine whether the SD card is fast enough to capture video at your intended frame rate and resolution, and make it easier to compare SD cards across brands. So, what kind of video can you capture with a V30 SD card?
V30 SD cards can be used to record Full HD videos as well as in 4K at lower frame rates (less than 30 fps). They are also suitable for capturing high-resolution burst images quickly. These features make V30 SD cards ideal for DSLR cameras, drones, action cameras, and other similar devices. If you use a card with a lower speed than V30 for 4K recording, you could experience dropped frame rates or recording errors. If you want to record 4K at higher frame rates or shoot 8K footage, you’d need at least a V60 SD card.
While the V30 indicates a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s, the actual performance of an SD card can be higher, so make sure you check the SD card’s detailed specifications on the product page or packaging. Also, note that the V30 only reflects write speeds of the SD card. Read speeds can be just as important. Faster read speeds will help you review your photos and videos quickly.
When buying an SD card, you also need to consider the capabilities of the device you’ll be using it in. For instance, you could buy a V30 SD card, but if your camera doesn’t support high write speeds, you won’t be able to benefit fully from the card’s capabilities. Thankfully, manufacturers usually list the recommended write speed for their products on their website, so be sure to check those specifications.
You may not be stuck using Apple Pay for much longer
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Can you imagine being able to tap your iPhone and pay for something without having to use Apple Pay? That situation is very real for German iPhone users, with reports that PayPal’s tap-to-pay feature is now available to use in the country (viaiPhone Ticker).
Actually, this isn’t a huge surprise. The EU’sDigital Markets Act(DMA) already forced Apple to open iPhone NFC chips to third-party payment providers. PayPal also announced that it would introduce this feature in Germany in apress releaseat the start of the month.
The feature is for iPhone only for now. Sorry, Android users, but it should work with payment terminals that support Mastercard. Based on my limited experience of travelling in Germany, that isn’t likely to be difficult.
The Vergenotes that this isn’t the first third-party tap-to-pay system to come to iPhones. While Norway isn’t actually a member of the EU, local payment app Vipps was the first company to take advantage of the newly opened NFC system back in December.
Obviously, PayPal is a much bigger deal, and it’s unlikely that it will limit tap-to-pay to the German market for long — assuming everything goes well.
While most of the DMA-imposed changes to iOS are limited to the EU,Apple has confirmed that it would be opening tap-to-pay in other regions as well— including the U.S. That process all kicked off withiOS 18.1, which arrived in October.
According to Apple, developers will be able to offer “in-app contactless transactions” for various things, including payments, car keys, transit passes, IDs, hotel room keys and even reward cards. Government ID support is also expected to arrive at some point in the future.
The changes also allow iPhone users to accept contactless payments via NFC. That means you can send money to your friends by tapping your phones together, rather than going through the motions of finding their account on Venmo or some other payment provider.
The appropriate APIs were made available to developers in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Brazil. It’s up to PayPal (or whoever else might be interested) to make it happen.
Before Windows 10’s retirement on October 14, 2025, Microsoft has once again relaxed its rules. This time it concerns Microsoft 365 apps, which were to supposed continue working only after upgrading to Windows 11. Now they will continue to receive security updates.
Windows is extending security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10. (Image source: Pexels / Nothing Ahead)
The end of support for Windows 10 is fast approaching. And while it’s clear that an update to Windows 11 is inevitable in certain cases, Microsoft continues to surprise with minor adjustments to the operating system’s end of support. This time, the company has added a paragraph about Microsoft 365 to its support page.
Microsoft 365 apps will continue to be supported with security updates until October 2028
Until recently, Microsoft’s support page stated that Microsoft 365 apps would no longer be supported from October 14, 2025, and that you would have to install Windows 11 to continue using them. Microsoft has now changed this text slightly and included an addendum below it that partially relaxes this restriction:
Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After that date, if you’re running Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows 10 device, the applications will continue to function as before. However, we strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability issues over time.
In the interest of maintaining your security while you upgrade to Windows 11, we will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 for a total of three years after Windows 10 end of support, ending on October 10, 2028.
Companies should not become complacent here, as an upgrade to Windows 11 or installing another operating system is advised due to the potential sensitivity of company data. For private users who do not use their Windows 10 PC for security-sensitive reasons such as online banking, but to play games or perform simple office tasks, this could well mean a little breathing space before the switch.
If you really don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11, you can take a look atLinux alternatives such as Mint. This offers a similar look to MacOS or Windows and is secure thanks to regular updates. Alternatively, switching toChromeOS Flexcan also be an alternative, although this operating system only works online and is similar to the Chrome browser with all its extension options.
If you’ve spent a lot of time doing digital photography, or if you’ve owned a lot of Android devices, you’re likely familiar with the humble yet mighty SD card. Across multiple specifications and sizes — SD, SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC, each available in regular and micro sizes — it’s a tried and true storage format. These days, an SD card can hold upwards of one terabyte of data. For mobile photographers and videographers, their slim dimensions make it easy to carry a bunch of them and hot swap as needed. For those who own one of the vanishingly few Android phones with a MicroSD slot, they’re a convenient way to massively increase the storage capacity of those devices. But how did the SD card format come to be, and what does ‘SD’ mean? Hint: it doesn’t stand for SanDisk.
In fact, SD stands for “Secure Digital,” and these little memory cards were originally designed not for photos and videos, but for music. Back in 1999, Toshiba, SanDisk, and Panasonic joined forces to create a new memory standard that could rival Sony’s Memory Stick (more on that later). There was another motive at play in the background, too. The music industry was fighting a losing battle against digital piracy, and major labels were desperately searching for a way to stem the tide.
The Secure Digital name was deliberately chosen in part because SD cards worked with the Secure Digital Music Initiative, the music industry’s effort to find ways of digitally distributing music that couldn’t be easily shared online. But by the early 2000s, SDMI had gone the way of the dodo. Though DRM compatibility remained a part of the spec, SD cards never became the future of music distribution, instead becoming a staple of simple storage solutions.
SD stands for Secure Digital, but it may have another meaning
The ‘SD’ stands for Secure Digital, but it originally stood for something entirely different. If you examine the SD logo stamped on an SD card or card reader, you may notice that the ‘D’ is shaped like a circular disc. Some printings of the logo even have visual accents on that letter to make it appear more like a CD or DVD. To state the obvious, nothing about an SD card is at all disc-like, so what gives?
It has been theorized that the SD card logo was originally intended for another Toshiba related technology that never made it to market. In 1995, Toshiba showed off its intended SD-ROM discs, which were meant to compete with the burgeoning DVD format being developed around the same time. The logo we now see on SD cards was plastered all over the press release.
In this case, ‘SD’ stood for Super Density. Since laser discs increase their storage capacity by putting the microscopic grooves on their plate closer together, Super Density was an apt description. However, SD-ROM never came to market, leaving Toshiba with the logo. When the company got involved in the development of the SD card a few years later, we can surmise that it would have seemed like a perfect opportunity to finally put that logo to use. With such a long history, old SD cards are still useful, but they were never a DVD competitor.
As mentioned near the top of this article, SD cards were in large part a response to Sony’s Memory Stick format. Sony has had a long history of trying to popularize its proprietary media formats, and a long track record of losses. If you’re old enough to sigh when you sit down in chairs, you’ll probably remember the wars that raged between Toshiba’s HD-DVD and the now ubiquitous Blu-ray format created by Sony. That battle went in Sony’s favor largely thanks to the PlayStation 3 and 4, since if you owned one of those consoles, you also owned a Blu-ray player. But there are far more discontinued Sony formats than there are popular ones. Betamax, MiniDisc, and DAT have all been consigned to history’s waste bin.
Memory Stick survived longer than most Sony formats, again thanks to a hardware advantage. It’s well known that Sony makes some of the best cameras on the market, and for a very long time, the company insisted on exclusively using Memory Stick. But unlike with gaming consoles, it was easy to simply buy a Canon or Nikon camera if you didn’t like the Memory Stick. And a lot of people did not like Memory Stick. It was expensive, proprietary, and not widely supported. By 2003, SD cards had surpassed it in popularity, and the trend never reversed.
It wasn’t until 2010 that Sony tacitly admitted defeat by releasing new products with support for both SD cards and Memory Stick. That’s probably for the best. As much as consumers can initially benefit from competition, there eventually needs to be a single, unified standard that they can use.
Google put on anAndroid Showtoday to offer a glimpse at its upcoming interface changes with Android 16, in addition to a slew of Gemini news. It didn’t show off any new devices running the new look; instead, Google offered advice to developers and an explanation of its overall design philosophy. That philosophy seems very… purple.
The new Material 3 Expressive guidelines call for extensive use of color (especially shades of purple and pink), new shapes in a variety of sizes, new motion effects when you take action, and new visual cues that group and contain elements on screen.
A screengrab of examples from Google’s Material 3 Expressive blog post(Image credit: Google)
Google says it has done more research on this design overhaul than any other design work it’s done since it brought its Material Design philosophy to Android in 2014. It claims to have conducted 46 studies with more than 18,000 participants, but frankly, I’m not a UX designer, so I don’t know if that’s a lot.
Google’s Material 3 Expressive is the new look of Android 16
After all of that work, Google has landed on this: Material 3 Expressive. The most notable features, once you get past the bright and – ahem – youthful colors, are the new motion effects.
For instance, when you swipe to dismiss a notification, the object you are swiping will be clear while other objects will blur slightly, making it easier to see. The other notifications nearby will move slightly as you swipe their neighbor. Basically, there will be a lot more organic-looking motion in the interface, especially on swipes and the control levers.
New shapes are coming to Android 16 with Material 3 Expressive(Image credit: Google)
There will be new type styles as well built into Android 16, with the ability to create variable or static fonts. Google is adding 35 more shapes to its interface library for developers to build with, along with an expanded range of default colors.
Google didn’t say that its new Material 3 Expressive design language was targeting iPhone fans, but the hints are there. The next version of Android won’t look cleaner and more organized, instead, Google wants to connect with users on an ‘emotional’ level. According to Google’s own research, the group that loves this new look the most are 18-24 year olds, ie, the iPhone’s most stalwart fan base.
Will this look win over the iPhone’s biggest fans? We’ll see in the months ahead(Image credit: Google)
In its official blog post, Google says, “It’s time to move beyond ‘clean’ and ‘boring’ designs to create interfaces that connect with people on an emotional level.” That connection seems to be much stronger among young people. Google says that every age group preferred the new Material 3 Expressive look, but 18-24 year olds were 87% in favor of the new look.
Apple’s iPhone fanbase is strongest in this age group, if not the generation that’s even younger. It makes sense that Google is making big changes to Android. In fact, this refresh may be overdue. We haven’t seen many inspiring new features in smartphones since they started to fold, and foldable phones haven’t exactly caught on. I’m surprised Google waited this long to improve the software, since there wasn’t any huge hardware innovation in the pipeline (temperature sensors, anybody?).
Material 3 Expressive is coming to more than just Android phones
The new Material 3 Expressive look won’t be limited to Android 16. Google says Wear OS 6 will get a similar design refresh, with more colors, motion, and adaptable buttons that change shape depending on your watch display.
Wear OS watches will also be able to use dynamic color themes, just like Android phones. Start with an image or photo and Wear OS will create a matching color theme for your watch to complement what it sees.
Google demonstrated new buttons that grow as they fill more of the Wear OS display(Image credit: Google)
Even Google’s apps will start to look more Expressive. Google says apps likeGoogle Photosand Maps will get an update in the months ahead that will make them look more like Android 16.
Google borrows a few iPhone features for Android 16, including a Lockdown Mode
Google also demonstrated Live Updates, a new feature that borrows from the iPhone to show you the progress of events like an Uber Eats delivery. The iPhone does this in the Dynamic Island, and Google is adding this feature to the top of the Android 16 display.
Security was a big focus of the Android Show, starting with new protections against calling and text message scams. Google is securing its phones against some common scammer tactics. For instance, scammers might call pretending to be from your bank and might ask you to sideload an app.
With Android 16, you won’t be able to disable Google’s Play Protect app-scanner or sideload any apps while you are on a phone call. You also won’t be able to grant permission to the Accessibility features, a common workaround to get backdoor access to a phone.
Google’s Messages app will also get smarter about text message scams. It will filter out scam messages that ask you to pay overdue toll road fees or try to sell you crypto.
The iPhone already has an extreme protection mode called Lockdown(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
Google is also enabling Advanced Protection, its own version of Apple’s Lockdown Mode, on Android 16. Advanced Protection is a super high-security mode that offers the highest level of protection against attacks, whether over wireless networks or physically through the USB port.
Basically, if you’re a journalist, an elected official, or some other public figure and you think a government is trying to hack your phone, Google’s Advanced Protection should completely lock your phone against outside threats.
(Image credit: Google)
If you don’t need that much security but you still want more peace of mind, Google is improving its old Find My Device feature. Android 16 will introduce the Find Hub, which will be a much more robust location to track all of your devices, including Android phones, wearables, and accessories that use ultra-wideband (UWB), similar to Apple AirTags.
Google is introducing new UWB capabilities to help find objects nearby, and those will roll out to Motorola’s Moto Tag first in the months ahead. The new Find Hub will also be able to use satellite connectivity to help locate devices and keep users informed. Plus, if you lose your luggage, Google is working directly with certain airlines like British Airways to let you share your tag information so they can go look for the bag they lost.
Gemini is coming to your car… and your TV… and your watch, and…
Today’s Android Show wasn’t all about Android. Google also made some big announcements about Google Gemini. Gemini is coming to a lot more devices. Gemini is coming to Wear OS watches. Gemini is coming to Android Auto and cars that run Google natively.
Gemini is coming to Google TV. Gemini is even coming to Google’s Android XR, a platform for XR glasses that don’t even exist yet (or at least you can’t buy them). For a brief moment in the Android Show, we caught a glimpse of Google’s possible upcoming glasses.
Could these be Google’s new XR glasses? Hopefully we’ll find out at Google I/O(Image credit: Google)
You’ll be able to talk to Gemini Live and have a conversation in your car on the way to work. ‘Hey Gemini, I need advice on asking my boss for a promotion!’ or ‘Hey Gemini, why is my life so empty that I’m talking to a machine in my car when I could be listening to music or a true crime podcast?’
I may sound like an AI skeptic, but Google’s own suggestions are equally dystopian. Google says on the way to your Book Club, you might ask Gemini to summarize that book you read ages ago (and mostly forgot) and suggest discussion topics. That does not sound like a book club I want to join.
Google did not offer any specific timing for any of the features mentioned in the Android Show, and only said these concepts would appear in the months ahead. It’s unusual for Google to share so much news ahead ofGoogle I/O, which takes place May 20-21 near its HQ in Mountain View, CA. I’ll be on the scene at Google I/O with our News Chief Jake Krol to gather up anything new.
With thePixel 9alaunch already passed, and now team Android spilling all the beans, I suspect Google I/O is going to be mostly about AI. Google is getting these tidbits out of the way so that I don’t waste time asking about new phones when it wants to talk more about Gemini and all the new AI developments. Or perhaps, even better, the Android XR news today was just a hint of what’s to come. Stay tuned, we’ll know more next week!
There must be something in the water in Silicon Valley. Several big tech and digital brands including Amazon andAdobehave revealed subtle tweaks to their logos this month, and now Google has dropped the first significant update to its logo in a decade. This one, however, is a little more noticeable.
Perhaps signalling the final death-knell for the harsh geometry of the flat design movement, Google has blurred the four colours of its ‘G’ logo into a rainbow gradient. The resulting effect is decidedlyInstagram-esque, and, somewhat surprisingly for a logo that adorns millions of smart phone homescreens, the change is actually going down well. Is Google finally within reach of ourbest logosroundup?
Old (left) vs new (right)(Image credit: Google)
The update was first noticed today when it replaced the previous icon design for the Google search app oniOSandAndroid. And while plenty of people have already made joke that the new, blurrier version is just the original when viewed without glasses, the overall consensus seems to be that it’s much more contemporary.
“Makes the current one look dated already. That’s a sign of a good design!” Comments one reader at9to5Google, while another adds, “Somehow it looks better than the regular one.” Over on X, one user comments, “A rare logo update that actually looks nice.”
Users think the old logo looks dated in comparison
Users think the old logo looks dated in comparison
We can expect there to be more noise around this one as it lands on more (and more) users’ homescreens over the coming days. Unlike those subtleAmazonandAdoberebrands, this one’s going to be placed right in front of users. But judging by the initial response, Google’s new gradient is a winner.
