News
If you shoot video, edit photos, or just want a fast backup drive that can survive being tossed in a bag, this deal is worth grabbing. The SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD is $215 (was $256) at Amazon — and it's the lowest ever price for a drive built to handle both speed and rough treatment.
This is SanDisk's newer Extreme Portable SSD rated for read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s over USB-C - a notable jump over the 1050 MB/s the excellent previous generation of this drive topped out at. It's rated IP65 for water and dust resistance and backed by a 5-year limited warranty.
Should you buy it?✅ Buy the SanDisk Extreme 1TB if...
You need a fast external drive for video editing, large file transfers, or backing up a laptop, and want something rugged enough to travel with. The 2000 MB/s and IP65 ratings make it well-suited to fieldwork, whether that's a shoot, a shared desk, or a backpack.
❌ Skip the SanDisk Extreme 1TB if...
Your device or cable setup can't take advantage of the faster USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface — you won't see the full 2000MB/s speeds on an older USB-C port, and a cheaper standard SSD would serve just as well.
A 1TB portable SSD rated for up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds over USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), with IP65 water and dust resistance, 256-bit AES encryption with password protection, and a 5-year limited warranty.View Deal
Why we recommend itSanDisk's Extreme line has always impressed us - we awarded the older model 4.5 stars in our review, with a TechRadar Pro Recommends badge. At the time, we called it "hands-down one of the best external SSDs (rugged or not) on the market, and its 1TB version is particularly attractive."
This is a faster version, but it's still the same design, including the durability rating for outdoor use (or a particularly violent commute).
The jump to 2000MB/s puts this drive well ahead of the standard 1050MB/s tier most portable SSDs in this price range are still stuck at, which matters if you're regularly moving large video files or full camera card dumps. Pairing that speed with IP65 durability and a 5-year warranty is still fairly rare below $250.
Price Context & Historical ValueThis is the lowest ever price for the new model SanDisk Extreme on Amazon, previously sold at $222, with the highest price being $270. On Best Buy, I previously highlighted the deal for $240 (was $300) - that's still available for a few hours, but the Amazon discount is the best place to go to save the most money.
The Catch: What to know before you buyTo actually hit the rated 2000MB/s speeds, you'll need a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2-capable port on your computer — plug it into an older USB-C or USB-A port, and you'll see noticeably lower real-world speeds. It's also worth knowing that IP65 resistance protects against splashes and dust, not full submersion, so this isn't a drive to take diving.
- A developer has a 28.9-million-parameter model generating TinyStories-style text at 9.88 tokens per second, fully offline, on a $10 microcontroller
- It was achieved by fitting a language model on a chip with 512KB of RAM by leaving most of it in flash storage
- The project is available on GitHub under an MIT license
A developer going by slvDev has a 28.9-million-parameter language model generating text on an ESP32-S3, a microcontroller built for sensor nodes and smart plugs, at 9.88 tokens per second, with nothing leaving the chip.
The project, esp32-ai, went up on GitHub under an MIT license in late July 2026, was showcased on the Better Stack YouTube channel, and has since collected over 3,600 stars and has more than 470 forks of the underlying code.
Given the underlying hardware's limitations, the attempt meant the model, which was trained on the TinyStories dataset by Microsoft Research, had to be scaled down.
Still a capable LLM despite the loss in accuracyThe arithmetic involved here is brutally unforgiving; weights typically need one to four bytes per parameter just to sit in memory, so 28.9 million parameters at 16-bit precision still require nearly 60 MB of RAM. An ESP32-S3 offers 512 KB of SRAM and 8 MB of PSRAM that is woefully inadequate at first glance.
Quantization closes the first part of the gap: dropping the weights to four-bit precision trades a little accuracy for a 75% reduction, bringing 60MB down to 14.9MB.
The second step is where the project earns most of its attention: most of a language model's parameters sit in embedding tables that the model reads from rather than computes against, and something you only read can live somewhere slow.
Borrowing Per-Layer Embeddings from Google's Gemma 3n, slvDev moved about 25 million parameters (roughly 12 MB at four-bit) into the board's 16 MB of flash, pulling around 6 rows, about 450 bytes, per token.
What remains in working memory is closer to 2 MB: the dense core and output head in PSRAM, and activations and norm weights in SRAM. Each tier stores whatever is read at its own frequency, and the chip's memory hierarchy serves as the architecture that enables the LLM.
Offloading weights to storage is not new; it is how people coax frontier-class models onto hardware that has no business running them, but it usually destroys throughput, turning tokens per second into seconds or minutes per token.
The PLE approach avoids that because the offloaded weights are accessed sparingly, so flash bandwidth never becomes the bottleneck. The resulting performance, 9.88 tokens per second, is faster than most people read.
The LLM has its limitations, however: the model writes short, mostly coherent stories and will not answer questions, follow instructions, write code, or know facts. The developer says the limit stems from the small part of the model that performs the reasoning (~4M parameters) and that the memory trick does not change its capabilities. His repository also ships a second model, Barista, which expressly answers espresso questions only (pun intended).
In short, the approach doesn't make small models smarter, but it does allow them to offload data within the board onto chips they could not previously run on, making it an interesting choice, though one with limited practical uses in its current iteration.
GMKtec is behind some of the most capable mini PCs we've ever tested, and the K8 Plus is no exception. And I just found the GMKtec K8 Plus mini PC for $650 (was $900) at Amazon.
This configuration features the high-performance Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, paired with 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. But the real highlight for us is the connectivity. Specifically, this mini PC comes with dual USB4 ports and an OCuLink port.
The 32GB/1TB K8 Plus is also on sale for $740 (was $750) direct from GMKtec, while the 32GB/512GB model is $689 (was $900) at Newegg.
Should you buy it?✅ Buy the GMKtec K8 Plus if...
You want desktop-class performance and expandability in a footprint that fits behind a monitor. The upgradeable RAM and dual M.2 storage, plus an OCuLink port for a future external GPU, make this a genuinely future-proof pick for a dorm room, home office, or secondary workstation.
❌ Skip the GMKtec K8 Plus if...
You care about design details — our review noted the transparent twist-off top cheapens what's otherwise a clean, metal-cased build. You'll also need an external graphics card connected if you need serious dedicated graphics power, since the integrated Radeon 780M is fine for light gaming but not built for demanding titles alone.
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD
This Windows 11 Pro mini PC from GMKtec comes equipped with a Ryzen 7 8845HS chip (8-core, 16-thread, up to 5.1GHz, 16MB L3 cache), 16GB of DDR5 RAM (expandable to 96GB) and a 1TB PCIe SSD. You'll also find Radeon 780M integrated graphics, with the option of hooking up an eGPU via the dual USB4 ports and an OCuLink port. We love the inclusion of dual 2.5G Ethernet, alongside HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. View Deal
Why we recommend itIn our 4.5-star review, we called it an "understated mini PC that delivers far more power than you'd expect for the price," and found it handled demanding day-to-day tasks with total ease during testing, backed by a genuinely capable set of upgrade options.
The OCuLink port is the standout feature here. It gives this mini PC a genuine path to external GPU performance that most machines this size simply don't offer, which matters if your needs might grow beyond what the integrated Radeon 780M can handle.
Combined with dual 2.5G Ethernet and 16GB of upgradeable RAM, this machine is built to keep pace as your workload changes, not just handle what you need today.
Price Context & Historical ValueAccording to CamelCamelCamel, this is the lowest price I've seen on Amazon for the 16TB/1TB configuration. However, I've previously seen the 32GB/1TB version selling for $630 back in February - before the RAMpocalypse truly hit and we saw price risess across the board. Previously, the 32GB/2TB version was selling for $810 (down from $940), a deal that ended today.
Alternatively, GMKtec has the 32GB/1TB model for $740 (was $750), and Newegg is selling the 32GB/512GB model for $689 (was $900).
The Catch: What to know before you buyOur main design complaint in the review was the transparent, twist-off top panel, which looks a bit cheaper than the rest of the metal chassis suggests it should. On the performance side, the integrated Radeon 780M graphics handle light gaming and everyday creative work well.
However, anyone chasing serious frame rates in demanding titles will want to rely on the OCuLink port for an external GPU rather than expect it from the iGPU alone.
For desktop-class performance in a genuinely small footprint, this is one of the better mini PC deals we've tracked. You can see more in our guide to the best mini PCs we've tested, and save with the best mini PC deals we've uncovered this week.
- Hivemind completes first autonomous swarming mission on water in Taiwan
- Drone boats identified and escorted a vessel during a coordinated surveillance exercise
- SeaShark 600 and 800 vessels operated together under a single autonomous command
An autonomous software system called Hivemind has directed a group of unmanned boats through a live mission for the first time on open water.
Developed by Shield AI, the AI tool took control of two vessel types built by Thunder Tiger during a staged exercise off Pingtung, Taiwan.
Engineers designed the exercise to test whether one AI system could manage several drone boats acting together as a coordinated unit.
Autonomous software directs coordinated drone boat missionTwo vessel models, the SeaShark 600 and the SeaShark 800, carried out the reconnaissance work under Hivemind's direction during the exercise.
Rather than following pre-set routes, the software built its own path in real time using radar feeds, camera imagery, and ship-tracking signals pulled from the area.
It located the search zone on its own, spotted an object worth investigating, and then organized the fleet's response around that discovery.
Once the object was found, the boats worked together to guide a separate ship safely away from the area under watch.
The trial marked the first time Hivemind completed an on-water swarming exercise, extending technology previously associated with autonomous operations across different military platforms.
“Hivemind continues to prove that true mission autonomy can scale across domains, platforms, and functional assets, unlocking new capabilities for distributed intelligence and maritime security missions,” said Nathan Michael, chief technology officer at Shield AI.
“As we continue working with Thunder Tiger to expand the scale and sophistication of autonomous maritime teams, these systems will fundamentally reshape maritime surveillance operations and strengthen deterrence through resilient, intelligent operations.”
The companies began collaborating through a strategic agreement aimed at integrating Hivemind autonomy software across both maritime and airborne unmanned systems.
Companies plan broader maritime deploymentsShield AI and Thunder Tiger plan to expand their collaboration by integrating additional sensors and improving coordinated swarm capabilities across autonomous maritime platforms.
The companies also intend to conduct open-ocean deployments supporting future United States and allied military applications.
According to Thunder Tiger, the latest exercise also examined how fleets of unmanned surface vessels could improve maritime awareness by detecting, classifying and identifying contacts during security operations.
“By integrating AI pilots into our portfolio, we can enable distributed, networked teams that coordinate dynamically to build a more complete understanding of the maritime environment … while helping operators respond with greater speed, scale, and effectiveness,” said Gene Su, board director and general manager of Thunder Tiger Corp.
“This demonstration marks an important step … and we expect our partnership with Shield AI to continue delivering increasingly sophisticated autonomous systems that strengthen Taiwan's defense posture.”
The demonstration adds to ongoing efforts to advance autonomous maritime operations using coordinated unmanned surface vessels.
Future activities will likely focus on integrating additional sensors, expanding swarm capabilities, and conducting open-ocean deployments.
Via The DroneFront
The Dell Tower Plus is one of those machines that impressed us during testing. It's such a versatile and configurable tower desktop that's suitable for everything from basic office use to full-blown creative workstation, whether out of the box or upgraded later down the line.
So, we were really pleased to see the Dell Tower Plus Desktop (EBT2250) is now $2000 (was $2530) at Dell. It's our top-ranked business computer for all professionals, with this performance-driven model equipped with a Core Ultra 7 CPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, and RTX 5060 Ti GPU.
Should you buy it?✅ Buy the Dell Tower Plus if...
You want one machine that covers both productivity and gaming without compromise. This configuration's RTX 5060 Ti and 20-core Ultra 7 chip give it real headroom for creative work, multitasking, and modern games alike, and the tower format leaves room to upgrade later.
❌ Skip the Dell Tower Plus if...
You want a compact or small-form-factor build, or care about aesthetics — our review flagged the minimalist, fairly plain design as one of its few weak points, along with the basic wired keyboard and mouse it ships with.
Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD
This is our pick for best business PC overall - specifically because it's ultra-configurable and future-proof, whether you need a basic office machine or creative workstation. The deal we've selected has a Core Ultra 7 265 chip, 32GB DDR5, and 1TB SSD, with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card. This feels like the best all-rounder, but you can easily switch out for the specs you need with discounts across the range. View Deal
Why we recommend itIn our 4.5-star review, we found the Dell Tower Plus is a machine that "does it all," praising how the same chassis scales from a barebones office machine up to a genuine creative or gaming rig, while staying quiet and easy to upgrade later.
What makes the Tower Plus line worth considering is just how configurable it is without changing the chassis or port layout. For that reason, we rank it the best business PC in our guide. Every professional can get something from this machine.
This particular build lands in a genuinely useful middle ground: enough GPU for 1440p gaming and GPU-accelerated creative work, enough CPU for heavy multitasking, and a straightforward path to upgrade RAM or storage down the line rather than being boxed in by a sealed or proprietary design.
Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, Windows 11 Home, and a wired keyboard and mouse round out this deal.
Price Context & Historical ValueIt's usually tricky to track pricing history from Dell, but based on our previous coverage $1999.99 is the standard deal price for this desktop PC. Not an all-time low, but still a significant discount compared to full price.
You can check out all the EBT2250 configurations currently discounted at Dell by clicking here.
The Catch: What to know before you buyOur review's main criticisms were about presentation rather than performance: the design leans minimalist to the point of looking plain, and the included keyboard and mouse are basic wired accessories rather than anything premium.
In our opinion, neither affects how the machine performs, but budget for your own peripherals if that matters to you.
For a desktop that flexes between work and play without complaint, this configuration is a strong buy at $1,999.99.
- A police officer pulled a Tesla over for traveling 64mph in a 45 mph zone
- The owner attempted to plead innocence as Full Self-Driving was running
- Police issued a very blunt response
Video footage has surfaced online that shows a police department in Parker, Colorado, reportedly pulling over a Tesla for traveling 64mph in a 45mph zone.
While this isn’t unusual in itself, the plea from the Tesla’s driver is, as the excuse was that they weren't in control at the time. “I wasn’t driving. I had Autopilot on,” came the plea.
The three-minute video was released by the police, alongside a blunt reply (or perhaps a warning to other drivers?) that read: “Driver assistance technology does not replace the driver.”
“Whether your vehicle has adaptive cruise control, lane centering or full self-driving, you are still legally responsible for operating your vehicle safely,” the response added.
Despite the driver being clocked at 64mph in a 45mph zone, the Tesla owner belligerently claims they weren’t in control, it wasn’t their fault and that the self-driving system was activated.
The police officer then says: “I don’t know how these systems work, but you’re not the first person I have stopped with Autopilot activated.”
In fact, one of Electrek’s own writers documented the moment he got a speeding ticket while using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving.
Despite setting the system to Standard mode — as opposed to the faster Hurry or Mad Max settings — the vehicle still crept up to 78km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Analysis: Bad by design(Image credit: Tesla)Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems are designed to assist the person behind the wheel, rather than completely replace them, no matter what Elon Musk espouses in his various public statements.
Currently, the law states that the buck stops with the driver, and any reckless driving, speeding or accident ultimately remains the driver’s fault, as they need to be ready to take control if and when these systems fail.
However, Tesla makes things difficult, as it has designed FSD to drift over the limit, even in Standard mode, and also took away the adjustable speed offset that once allowed owners to cap how far over the limit the vehicle would creep in autonomous modes.
Electrek reports that the adjustable speed offset was recently removed in FSD v14 and replaced with fixed driving profiles.
It is easy to see why Tesla has trained its systems this way, as many drivers get frustrated when technology vehemently adheres to speed limits and subsequently fails to keep up with traffic.
But with many other semi-autonomous cruise-control technologies, the driver has complete control over the speeds at which they are happy to creep over the limit.
If Tesla’s driving assistance systems keep landing drivers in hot water, many will stop using them entirely, which is exactly the opposite of what the company wants.
After all, Elon Musk has long promised that drivers will soon be able to text and immerse themselves in all manner of side tasks in the very near future.
But right now, it feels like Tesla owners need to be more alert than ever.
- Scammers stole $1.27m from a Hong Kong man after tricking him with AI
- The scheme impersonated his father using AI deepfake tech
- Experts say using a secret codeword can thwart the fraudsters
A Hong Kong man was recently conned out of HK$10 million ($1.27 million) by scammers who used artificial intelligence (AI) on WhatsApp to impersonate his father and request the payments, highlighting the dangers of trusting increasingly realistic AI tools. Yet experts say there’s a simple trick that can save you from suffering a similar fate.
According to the Hong Kong police’s Cyberdefender platform (via the South China Morning Post), the fraudsters sent a WhatsApp voice message to the victim saying they urgently needed a transfer of HK$1 million ($127,000).
This was convincing to the target, the SCMP reported, because the “voice and manner of speech [of the message] matched his father’s.” The victim was repeatedly exploited this way until he had transferred the entirety of his savings.
Warning people against falling for AI trickery, the Hong Kong police force said: “Do not blindly trust voice messages. Even if the voice sounds similar, it does not necessarily mean it is accurate.”
If you’re unsure whether the message is genuine, put the phone down and call your friend or family member back so that you know with certainty who you are speaking to. The police also recommended enabling two-factor authentication on your devices and reviewing the list of devices connected to your accounts. If you see any suspicious devices, remove them immediately.
How to beat the fraudsters(Image credit: Brett Jordan / Unsplash)Deepfake scams like this are so effective because they appear to come from a familiar, trustworthy source — even when they’re anything but. Yet experts have just published a proven way that you can beat the swindlers and keep everyone safe.
As reported by the BBC, setting a secret codeword to be used in emergencies can help you tell if the person on the call is actually a loved one or merely an AI impersonating them. As the BBC put it, “Deepfake scams might use your voice, but they don’t know what’s in your head.”
One tactic used by scammers is to use urgency in order to create panic and prevent you from thinking straight. That’s why it’s important to take a moment to think to ensure you remember to use the codeword and verify the caller’s identity.
When it comes to picking a codeword, “Pick something that’s easy to remember and hard to guess,” the BBC recommended. “Inside jokes are a safe bet.”
As Philadelphia lawyer and anti-scam activist Gary Schildhorn put it, there are three red flags to look out for: time pressure, a request for hard-to-trace funds (like cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards), and control over who you can speak to on the call. Experience any of those and you might be speaking to a malicious con artist.
Bear all that in mind and you stand a much better chance of protecting yourself from fraudsters. The next time you get an unusual message or call seemingly from a loved one, take a minute to breathe and remember your codeword.
- Redditor uses Claude Code to help reverse-engineer the firmware on an HP 15-dw1036ne, patching its signature check and exposing 55 hidden setup fields and four configuration tabs
- The laptop's RSA-2048 was not broken: the verification routine was patched to return success, a standard firmware-modding technique as per Community Notes
- The result is model- and version-specific, still requires physical access via a hardware flash programmer, and leaves the machine permanently more exposed to firmware implants in the future
A Reddit user going by Reddit_2049 posted to r/ClaudeAI a claim that traveled fast: Claude Code had picked apart the firmware on their HP 15-dw1036ne and unlocked it, exposing 55 hidden setup fields and four previously invisible configuration tabs.
The move, though impressive, relies on a well-known BIOS modding approach: attacking the BIOS signature check so the BIOS always replies in the affirmative, effectively bypassing it altogether rather than throwing a potential firmware corruption error.
While it does have security implications, it also opens up a route to essentially 'rescue' locked or disabled laptops that would otherwise become e-waste.
Claude Code unlocked my laptop's bios! from r/ClaudeAIA solution to certain types of e-waste, enabled by AIWhat Claude Code did to "unlock" the Redditor's laptop is not a new technique. It bypassed the firmware's integrity check (an RSA-2048 signature verification) by targeting not how the check was performed, but how its result was reported.
The cryptography remains untouched, as Community Notes on two of the larger viral posts about the story pointed out. What the episode does highlight is that on machines without hardware-rooted boot protection, the verification routine itself sits in modifiable firmware, which is the same repair specialists and modders have relied on for years.
Reddit_2049 ran the job through the standard firmware toolchain: Ghidra for disassembly, UEFITool for extracting firmware volumes, and Unicorn Engine to emulate the check outside the real machine. Claude Code assisted here rather than acting autonomously by stitching together the relevant parts for him. The techniques involved are well documented; what was not documented was this particular machine, and that is the gap the model closed.
That opens an interesting front, one that could help with e-waste, even if not every owner is equipped to open a laptop safely or use a hardware flash programmer. An LLM that can read disassembly and hold a firmware layout in its head compresses hours of specialist work, which means targets that were never worth anyone's time individually now might be.
Whether the approach travels is an interesting question, however. The author of the original post warns the script may not work even on superficially similar HP models, and anyone attempting it on different hardware would need a flash programmer on hand and a tolerance for bricking the machine: modified firmware also brings its own problems, including occasional stability issues.
Right-to-repair rules in the EU and several US states have been circling this territory without directly addressing firmware. Until they do, the position stands roughly where it did last week, except that reverse-engineering a specific machine's firmware has become considerably cheaper for everybody.
That could let owners keep using older, locked laptops that would otherwise become e-waste, at a time when consumers are already burdened by higher costs due to inflation and an AI spending spree by data centers affecting laptops and desktops alike.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is one of Samsung's latest batch of foldable phones, and it shakes things up by introducing a new shape to the lineup. It's shorter and wider than its predecessor, giving it the perfect dimensions — when unfolded — for reading (in portrait orientation) or watching movies and playing games (in landscape). In his hands-on Galaxy Z Fold 8 review, our phones editor commented that this "passport-shaped oddity" had "revived [his] interest in foldable phones".
If you've decided this is the foldable phone for you and have one on order or winging its way to you, now's the time to get a case sorted. Below, I've rounded up my favorite cases and covers in the US and in the UK. You'll find options from a range of trusted brands including Spigen and Otterbox. I've also included some of Samsung's official Galaxy Z Fold 8 cases, although be aware that most of these are just a back cover with a screen protector for the front — with that in mind, I'd say there are better value options to be found from third-party brands.
Scroll down to browse my favorite Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 cases and covers to keep your new passport-shaped foldable protected from bumps and scrapes.
US cases for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Spigen Core Armor (Mag Fit) Spigen Slim Armor Pro S (Mag Fit) Spigen Slim Armor Pro (Mag Fit) Spigen Air Fit Pro (Mag Fit) Samsung Clear Case, Transparent Samsung C11 Magnet Case Samsung Carbon Magnet Case, Violet Samsung Hinge Protection Magnet Case, Transparency Samsung Mirror Magnet Case (Kakao Friends) Samsung Carbon Standing Case, Graphite Samsung Clear Magnet Case, Transparent FNTCASE Full Hinge Protection Clear Cover SPIDERCASE Military Grade Drop Protection Cover, Black TORRAS Magnetic & Flush Stand, Black Temdan Translucent Matte Shockproof Case, black UK cases for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Otterbox Defender Series Pro XT, Black Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Clear Case Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Carbon Standing Case Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Carbon Magnet Case Samsung Hybrid Shield Magnet Case Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Silicone Magnet Case Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Clear Magnet Case Lemxiee Cover with MagSafe charging Aiziki Slim, shockproof TPU case, clear OWKEY Slim, translucent, non-slip case with MagSafe Vihibii Magnetic case With Kickstand, Black Spigen Air Skin MagFit CaseCampaigners have long feared the influence of big money and influential corporations in politics – with this situation arguably worse than ever. In modern times, lobbying by technology companies has even given way to technology executives playing a role in devising government policy.
The path to progressAt the end of his two-term presidency, Dwight D Eisenhower used his final address to the American people to warn about the dangers that he foresaw lying ahead.
Quote of the dayThis article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.
In particular, the military veteran warned about the rise of a new elite in society dominated by figures in science and technology, whose power would come to overwhelm democratically elected officials. He also suggested that the path of progress would be wrought with a lack of morals and ethics, with projects pursued in the name of progress regardless of the consequences to society at large.
A major component of this would be that the pursuit of major government contracts would dominate the scientific world, whereby the pursuit of money would dampen any genuine curiosity and lead to fewer meaningful discoveries.
The dawn of Silicon ValleyThe former US president's warnings have largely come to fruition, first with the rise of Silicon Valley elites during the original internet age and now, subsequently, these forces are arguably entrenching their power in the AI era.
Technology companies have spent billions of dollars collectively on lobbying the government, with a small handful of companies including Microsoft, Meta, X and Snap channeling more than $260 million between 2020 and 2024.
The Trump administration has taken this influence one step further by giving vested interests a seat at the table and in the heart of government.
A new NYT Strands 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 Strands hints and answers for Friday, August 7 (game #887).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #888) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It has its ups and downs
NYT Strands today (game #888) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- NECK
- SORT
- COUNT
- CREW
- PULP
- CAPTURE
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #888) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?• First side: right, 6th row
• Last side: left, 6th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #888) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #888, are…
- TRACK
- DROP
- LOOP
- CUTBACK
- TUNNEL
- CORKSCREW
- SPANGRAM: ROLLERCOASTER
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
After a Strands yesterday that made no sense it was a relief to return to the world of real words, albeit ones connected to a thing designed to make you feel unwell.
I say that because I always feel unwell on — or even at the thought of — a ROLLERCOASTER, but I know they bring a great deal of pleasure to lots of people — including my own family, who enjoy seeing me turn green.
These days, my favorite thrill is spotting a Strands word that goes up or down in a CORKSCREW and today I got that with the word CORKSCREW.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, August 7, game #887)- GIZMO
- THINGAMAJIGGY
- DINGUS
- DOOHICKEY
- SPANGRAM: WHATCHAMACALLIT
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
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, August 7 (game #1153).
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 #1154) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
- EASY
- WHOOPEE
- BELT
- GOGGLES
- CUTIE
- PHRASE
- PIN
- COUCH
- HOT DOG
- EFFECTS
- EXPRESS
- RAZOR
- I OWE YOU
- YAHOO
- FRAME
- HURRAH
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Jolly hockeystick type phrases
- GREEN: How you say it
- BLUE: Shortened with a letter
- PURPLE: Begin with a secure word
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 #1154) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT
- GREEN: CONVEY
- BLUE: WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES
- PURPLE: SAFETY _____
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1154) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #1154, are…
- YELLOW: QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT: HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE, YAHOO
- GREEN: CONVEY: COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, PHRASE
- BLUE: WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES: CUTIE, EASY, EFFECTS, I OWE YOU
- PURPLE: SAFETY _____: BELT, GOGGLES, PIN, RAZOR
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 1 mistake
I watch the occasional black and white movie from the 1930s and they are always saying things like HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE, YAHOO, so this yellow group came easily enough.
My error came with the purple group. I saw that SAFETY was a link between BELT, PIN and GOGGLES but plumped for PHRASE as my fourth tile — I was thinking this is an expression people use in wrestling or something when things have got too serious.
Meanwhile, I'm glad I managed to collect the four words meaning CONVEY, as WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES flew way over my head.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, August 7, 2026, game #1153)- YELLOW: COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE: FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX, WICK
- GREEN: COLD THINGS: LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW, SUNDAE
- BLUE: PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR: BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR, SHAFT
- PURPLE: STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS: BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO, TOMATILLO
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.
A new Quordle 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: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, August 7 (game #1656).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1657) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1657) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.
Quordle today (game #1657) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1657) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #1657) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• F
• B
• R
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1657) — the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1657, are…
- FUROR
- BUGLE
- REUSE
- SCOOP
A nice game where the “first thought, best thought” method paid off.
My only moment of hesitation was guessing FUROR over “juror”, with common sense prevailing over the temptation to use a rare letter.
Daily Sequence today (game #1657) — the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1657, are…
- PSALM
- TATTY
- FIFTH
- ELFIN
- Quordle #1656, Friday, 7 August: AMISS, SHIRK, SALSA, RABBI
- Quordle #1655, Thursday, 6 August: AMUSE, BRAND, CEDAR, BLURB
- Quordle #1654, Wednesday, 5 August: MOUND, WRONG, STOOD, WEIRD
- Quordle #1653, Tuesday, 4 August: GOOEY, TARDY, HUMAN, CHALK
- Quordle #1652, Monday, 3 August: FUNGI, MUDDY, DEBUT, MANIA
- Quordle #1651, Sunday, 2 August: BOOTH, EASEL, REACH, MAKER
- Quordle #1650, Saturday, 1 August: OMEGA, BIRCH, SMOCK, EERIE
- Quordle #1649, Friday, 31 July: MANIA, SINGE, STOOL, LOFTY
- Quordle #1648, Thursday, 30 July: MODAL, IDLER, CHUMP, LUMPY
- Quordle #1647, Wednesday, 29 July: GAWKY, ALLOY, AUDIT, LATCH
- Quordle #1646, Tuesday, 28 July: SMITE, ROACH, RUDDY, GLOBE
- Quordle #1645, Monday, 27 July: TAFFY, FIGHT, GUILD, WAGER
- Quordle #1644, Sunday, 26 July: STOMP, LIMIT, FUNKY, STEAD
- Quordle #1643, Saturday, 25 July: SALON, SHEEN, BURST, GOURD
- Quordle #1642, Friday, 24 July: DOLLY, EDIFY, LAGER, PRANK
- Quordle #1641, Thursday, 23 July: LADEN, EVICT, WOVEN, SHIRE
- Quordle #1640, Wednesday, 22 July: COYLY, SINGE, AWASH, AWOKE
- Quordle #1639, Tuesday, 21 July: TRUSS, AXIAL, SWINE, THING
- Quordle #1638, Monday, 20 July: ICING, SLICK, GAILY, RISEN
- Quordle #1637, Sunday, 19 July: SPURT, ACRID, THRUM, BLEEP
- CACI secured a Pentagon contract worth up to $500 million total
- JIATF-401 manages daily counter-drone operations across the entire joint force
- SkyValor detected and defeated drones beyond visual range during testing
The US Department of Defense has awarded CACI a contract worth up to $500 million to expand deployment of its SkyValor counter-unmanned aerial system across military operations.
The agreement supports procurements through the Pentagon's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), which manages daily counter-drone operations and related acquisition activities throughout the joint force.
The award comes as militaries increasingly seek faster methods of detecting, tracking, and stopping small unmanned aircraft before they threaten personnel or critical infrastructure.
Contract expands deployment of counter-drone systemsThe three-year agreement allows JIATF-401 to purchase additional SkyValor systems, including the fixed-site CORIAN configuration and the Backpackable Electronic Attack Module called BEAM.
BEAM combines radio frequency detection with electronic attack capabilities, giving operators a portable option for identifying and disrupting hostile drones across different operational environments.
SkyValor is designed to detect, monitor, identify, and defeat unauthorized drones while providing an additional protective layer before larger counter-drone systems become available.
The latest contract follows operational evaluations conducted at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, where the system reportedly detected and defeated multiple small drones beyond visual range.
CACI previously secured another JIATF-401 agreement allowing SkyValor integration onto heavy-duty military trucks, expanding deployment options beyond fixed defensive positions and portable configurations.
Those developments indicate the Pentagon's interest in fielding counter-drone equipment capable of supporting military forces across varied operational scenarios.
The growing availability of inexpensive unmanned aircraft has increased demand for systems capable of providing earlier warning while responding rapidly against evolving aerial threats.
Operational testing supports wider procurement plansAccording to CACI, successful operational evaluations cleared the way for SkyValor to enter full-rate production under the newly awarded procurement agreement.
The company’s President and CEO John Mengucci said drone threats are becoming faster, easier to obtain, and increasingly difficult for military personnel to detect.
"SkyValor delivers that advantage through long-range detection, precision defeat, and the ability to adapt as drone threats evolve," Mengucci said.
He claims that the system gives defenders more time and intelligence needed to stop threats before they endanger military forces, borders, or infrastructure.
These capabilities, according to Mengucci, moved SkyValor beyond testing phases and toward readiness for large-scale military deployment across multiple environments.
"With successful operational evaluations complete, we are moving SkyValor into full-rate production to deliver mission-ready protection where it is needed most," Mengucci added.
The agreement does not specify how many SkyValor systems the Pentagon expects to purchase during the three-year contract period or their deployment priorities.
Although successful testing supported the procurement decision, broader operational effectiveness will ultimately depend upon how the systems perform against increasingly sophisticated drone threats.
Via The DroneFront
- Chinese equipment fills critical roles, though it represents only a small share overall
- Russia plans to quadruple annual Angara rocket production within the next decade
- Internal documents expose extensive factory upgrades supporting future rocket manufacturing
Russia is pushing to significantly grow production of its Angara space rockets, to quadruple annual output within the next decade.
Internal planning documents obtained by researchers show the expansion depends heavily on imported machine tools, and most of them are Chinese-made.
That dependence stretches across shop floors that Russia will need to modernize before it can build four rockets a year instead of one.
Counting the Chinese machinesOf the 541 pieces of equipment listed in the procurement plan, 477 are Russian-made, and only 57 come from Chinese suppliers.
Two more machines came from Bulgaria, leaving the Chinese share of the total list at roughly 10.5%, a modest slice on paper.
That number changes sharply once each machine is weighed by its technological importance rather than simply counted one by one.
Measured that way, Chinese suppliers account for 28.2% of the entire project's technological core, based on the internal planning documents.
In the metalworking shop alone, over 47% of the equipment needed there comes from Chinese manufacturers instead of domestic ones.
The finance tells a similar story: over 84% of the entire 3.62-billion-rouble (~$44.71 million) equipment budget still flows into that same technological core.
In total, Khrunichev intends to put close to 900 million roubles (~ $11.29 million), toward equipment made in China.
Roughly 10 manufacturers account for most of that spending, and several of them also sell machinery to buyers in Europe and America.
Where the machines really come fromSome of those companies fit a wider trend that has taken hold since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started in 2022.
Heavy forging and hydraulic press equipment fall under European Union export restrictions whenever the intended buyer is based inside Russia.
Washington has also placed sanctions on Russian makers of heavy hydraulic presses, one of them a firm called Pressmash, back in 2023.
Yet under that very same customs code, the EU's imports of Chinese-made machine tools still totalled 207 million euros (~$238 million) in 2025.
Those imports rose another 17.6% in the opening six months of 2026, measured against the equivalent stretch the previous year.
In effect, the same manufacturers profit from Western markets that back Ukraine while also helping modernize the military hardware Russia sends into orbit.
Sanctioning any single Chinese supplier is unlikely to stop this flow of equipment, since near-identical machines are made by several competitors.
Whether losing access to European and American customers would ever outweigh the profits of supplying Russia remains an open question.
The Angara rockets built with the Chinese equipment carry the Russian Ministry of Defense satellites that American experts claim could threaten assets in orbit and on the ground.
However, Russian experts described the spacecraft as operating "in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense."
That difference between Moscow's official position and Washington's assessment has persisted since the conflict in Ukraine began.
Via United24media
- Denza Z9S is a more efficient version of the Z9 GT
- Chinese company claims 1,100 km (683 miles) between charges
- The flagship version starts at 349,800 yuan ($51,800) in China
Denza’s Z9 GT has long been tipped as a genuine Porsche Taycan rival, touting serious performance from an optional tri-motor setup, enormous range and the promise of sub-10-minute charging times thanks to the BYD Group’s Flash Charging technology.
Having proven a hit in China, the Z9 GT is finally making its way to UK and European shores and, despite prices cresting the £100,000 mark, it looks set to challenge the more established premium players with masses of performance and the option of a range-extending hybrid that can cover 500 miles with a mix of electricity and gasoline.
Back in China, Denza is already tweaking the formula, recently opening the order books for a more aerodynamically efficient Z9S model that comes fitted with BYD’s 102.3-kWh Blade Battery 2.0.
Breakthroughs in battery and motor efficiency, as well as a more slippery fastback body style, mean the Z9S is capable of traveling 1,100 km — or 683 miles — on a single charge. Because of this, Denza claims this is the “world’s longest-range EV.”
As a caveat, this is all according to China’s CLTC testing cycle, which is notoriously generous with its estimations.
If these figures are to be believed, Z9S owners could drive from New York to Motor City, Detroit, without stopping.
(Image credit: Denza/CNEV Post)Similarly, drivers could load up the car in Berlin and arrive in Paris without having to trouble the public charging network.
If you apply a standard conversion factor of 0.80 to convert China’s CLTC to the more stringent European WLTP testing cycle, it still results in a range of between 546 and 560 miles.
In the US, a conversion to EPA would result in approximately 480 miles — still hugely impressive.
According to Electrek, the base Premium model starts at 319,800 yuan in China (around $47,300/AU$67,350/£35,000), the flagship version starts at 349,800 yuan ($51,800/AU$73,600/£38,500), and the tri-motor Performance variants cost 389,900 yuan ($57,700/AU$82,000/£43,000).
But as we have seen with the recent unveiling of UK pricing for the Z9 GT, these costs dramatically escalate once you factor in import duties and local taxes.
Analysis: outright range is becoming less important(Image credit: Denza/CNEV Post)We are starting to enter an EV era where it is not uncommon for vehicles at the premium end of the market to cover more than 450 miles on a single charge.
Volvo’s EX60, the latest Mercedes-Benz CLA, BMW’s iX3 and Tesla’s most recent Model 3 Long Range will all happily deliver 450 miles or more, which is not far off the converted WLTP and EPA cycle range of Denza’s “world-beating” Z9S.
As a result, claims of “the world’s longest-range EV” coming from China have to be taken with a pinch of salt, due to the discrepancies in the way the country conducts its EV efficiency tests.
What’s more, these cars, with their enormous battery packs and cutting-edge electric motor technology, rarely arrive in markets outside of China sporting the sort of tempting price tags that they do in their domestic market.
Rather than focusing on all-out range, potential customers should get more excited about a wider rollout of BYD’s Flash Charging technology outside of its home market, which has the potential to drastically reduce the overall time of electric road trips with ultra-rapid top-ups.
The Kensington Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ follows a long line of large-ball control devices that rethink the standard computer mouse entirely. This latest version is a relatively large unit that sits where your mouse would, with a big central trackball with controls neatly arranged around it.
Setup on the Mac took a little longer than expected, requiring a couple of restarts and some security authorisation in System Settings. Everything is guided and reasonably straightforward, and where something did not work first time, a restart sorted it. On Windows 11 it was considerably simpler: install Kensington Konnect and the applications and integration were ready to go.
Once running, you can start customising it per application. I tested both wired and Bluetooth connections, and both were fast and responsive for video and photo editing, as well as for Word and Excel.
Kensington Konnect is where everything happens. You add applications to the list on the right, and the presets for the TB900 EQ swap automatically as those applications come to the front. Switching between Photoshop and Final Cut Pro during this test, I had a different set of presets waiting for each. I could not find any pre-configured application profiles supplied, though this is a pre-release unit and maybe they’ll arrive as downloads later.
In Final Cut Pro, most of the defaults were close to what I wanted. I changed the dial around the main ball to scrub, the lower-left button to blade, and the right button to select. With those three, plus the ball tracking left and right, the four most common movements were all within reach without moving my hand.
The test that convinced me was a head-to-head edit. I edited the same footage once with keyboard and mouse as I normally would, then again using the TB900, and the trackball was quicker despite years of muscle memory pointing the other way.
If you work in the creative sector, or simply find a mouse annoying, this is worth a look. Having used many control boards over the years and trackballs, I am genuinely surprised by how much I like the TB900 EQ and how quickly it improved my video editing.
Kensington Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ: Price and availability- How much does it cost? TBC
- When is it out? Coming soon
- Where can you get it? Directly from Kensington
The Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ is at pre-release and not yet available in stores. The previous TB800 EQ is widely available from major retailers and directly from Kensington, so I expect the new TB900 to follow suit.
- Value: TBC
Connectivity: USB-C wired, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz USB dongle
Size: 125 x 165mm, approximately 60mm high with the ball fitted
Weight: Just under 450g
Ball diameter: 55mm, removable
Tracking: Kensington Diamond Eye optical tracking
Controls: Four buttons around the ball, 360-degree scroll ring, two side scroll dials, four top buttons, mode button, three underside toggle switches
OS Installed: Kensington Konnect software, macOS and Windows
The TB900 is a great-looking device, though far larger than an average mouse, with a desktop footprint of 125 x 165mm and a height of roughly 60mm with the ball fitted. At just under 450g, it is also considerably heavier, which in practice means it stays exactly where you put it rather than wandering across the desk.
The point of the design is that it takes up little room and you never move it. Your cursor travels because the ball turns, not because your hand travels. Around the 55mm ball sit four buttons and a rotating scroll ring. Across the top are four additional buttons and a mode button; on the left are two rotary dials with a connectivity switch and button; and on the right are two quick-access buttons.
Underneath there are three toggle switches that turn off the two side scroll dials and the top button. That makes more sense the more you use it, because those controls are easy to knock accidentally. Moving between Word, Excel, and creative applications, I found myself flicking the side dials off and on, and having physical switches for that rather than a menu is something I really liked.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Build quality is excellent and this review sample is the black-and-grey option, with a matt black body in good-quality plastic and a silver-grey ball that has a satisfying weight.
A red version is also available with a red ball but the same body. It’s also worth noting that while the device is relatively small, there’s no carry case in the box, so if you’re thinking of portability, that is something to consider. Placed into my kit bag, the ball would come loose.
That one oddity to anyone new to the system is that the ball lifts straight out. It’s held only by the cradle's light grip and its own weight, making it quick to swap in a different-coloured ball, although less well designed for portability as mentioned.
- Design: 4.5 / 5
Compared with a standard mouse, the TB900 EQ is surprisingly feature-packed. Reading the movement of the ball is Kensington's Diamond Eye optical tracking that moves the cursor across the screen as the 55mm ball is rotated. In use, this instantly feels far more accurate than using a mouse, with plenty of control over interaction speed accessible through the Konnect software. The ball's own weight also means that it’s smooth to move but feels tactile rather than loose.
Around the ball is a fully adjustable scroll ring with 360-degree rotation, and it is superb for scrubbing through video footage. On the sides sit two customisable scroll dials which, by default, are both set to zoom in whichever application you are in. That proved annoying, and I reassigned them quickly because I kept catching one with my little finger. Likewise for some of the speed settings, the vertical scroll set at slow was actually the perfect balance; however, I did switch off the inertia scroll.
Every button and control is customisable through Konnect, which lets you create presets for each application. For this review, I configured Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. Aside from the zoom assignment, the defaults were fine for most productivity work.
Konnect splits into Buttons, Pointer, and Scrolling tabs, with Easy Mode and Advanced Mode, and settings are stored under named profiles. Pointer speed runs on a slider with optional acceleration, and a custom speed can be bound to modifier keys so a Cmd or Shift press temporarily changes tracking speed.
Alongside the dials, the buttons around the ball take what is possible on a standard mouse a good deal further. At the same time, there are plenty of mice with multiple buttons and customisation software. It’s only when you start using a trackball like this that you realise how much more intuitive the arrangement is, particularly for creative work.
- Features: 4.5 / 5
I tested the TB900 EQ on both macOS and Windows 11. The majority of the work was done on a MacBook Pro M1 Max, with part of the test carried out on an ASUS ProArt desktop to similar effect. Installation on the Windows machine was extremely straightforward: install Konnect, and the applications and integration were set and ready.
On the Mac it was more involved. Security authorisation is needed from within System Settings. While the setup process opens the relevant window directly rather than leaving you hunting for the toggle switches, I still hit a few connectivity issues. These were resolved with a restart of the machine, after which everything was resolved, and every connection after that initial setup was instant, with my configured presets remaining intact.
What struck me when I started was how intuitive the trackball felt. A dip into Konnect to reduce sensitivity, so the cursor was less jittery, showed how much more control you have than with a mouse. I found that resting two fingers on the ball gave the greatest control for the cursor with my thumb on the dial.
It also didn’t take long for the ball and surrounding buttons to feel natural, essentially mimicking a mouse layout. Once normal operation was established, I then moved on to per-application customisation, starting with Final Cut Pro, then Photoshop, and finally Premiere Pro.
What I was keen to address is the problem with any video edit of scrubbing control with a mouse. Essentially, scrubbing through footage both quickly and accurately to find the exact frame where an edit is needed. With the use of the ball, this all changes and what I liked here was that the four buttons around the ball and the scroll ring let me assign all the most common functions.
The ball itself scrubs the timeline. The scroll ring around it handles precise scrubbing, one frame at a time. The left button selects, the right blades, and the two top buttons move to the previous and next cut. All of it is assigned through Konnect.
Once those basics were set, everything else fell into line. After about five minutes of editing, it was clearly faster than the mouse-and-keyboard setup I am used to, and it felt far more like being back in an edit suite than at a desk.
The comparison I ran was a straight head-to-head. Stating a three-minute edit with the keyboard and mouse took around 20 minutes, consisting of a soundtrack edit then B-Roll. I then took a look at another similar video and repeated the process, and the second edit took around 15 minutes with a definite speed increase due to the button layout.
What really made the difference was the precision, being able to assign the dial around the ball to scrub, so a quick spin would speed through the footage while a smaller turn would go frame-by-frame, giving absolute control
Moving to Word, I assigned the features I use most to the buttons, with the scroll ring handling accurate movement through the text. Having the control dial skip a line at a time, with the left button for selection, again felt more intuitive than mouse and keyboard.
The TB900 however does not work in isolation. I still use the keyboard for typing and for shortcuts, but I was able to move far more of the control function away from the mouse and onto the trackball. Individually, those are a couple of seconds in savings. Over a half-day, edits add up to a considerable difference.
- Performance: 4.5 / 5
Thinking about who this is for, office workers get the simplest benefit: quick navigation around the screen without the faff of moving a mouse across the desk. The trackball stays fixed and close, so you never need to clear a path for it.
Then there is the customisation. Once you start assigning buttons to different applications and functions, and spend serious time in a piece of software, it is not difficult to tune it to exactly what you need.
Where it really comes into its own is the creative sector. The analogue feel of the two side dials and the main ring around the ball makes a genuine difference, and the texture and weight of the ball add a lot when working with creative media, giving fine and precise control. That is the real difference between this and a mouse: you feel fully in control of both cursor navigation and the edits you are applying.
It does take a little time to bed in and to get the right customisation assigned. Once you do, this is as close to a perfect trackball design as I have come across, especially when working across several applications rather than treating it as a dedicated video controller.
If, like me, you are not that keen on a mouse and often fall back to a trackpad instead, the Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ will be a pleasant surprise. And if you have tried trackballs before and struggled to get your head around them, my experience across this review is that this one is quick and easy to pick up.
Should I buy a Kensington Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ?(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Value
If priced along the same lines as the previous version then this again should be great value, but I’ll update when the official price is confirmed
/
Design
Excellent build and weight, ergonomic control layout, but unfortunately no carry case
4.5/5
Features
Fully customisable per-application track ball and button assignment through Konnect
4.5/5
Performance
Easy to use becoming faster than mouse and keyboard within minutes, minor Mac setup friction
4.5/5
Overall
Absolutely outstanding, easy to use and far more intuative than using a mouse, especially for creative applications and video editing.
4.5/5
Buy it if...You edit video or work in creative applications.
The scroll ring scrubs a timeline while the ball tracks and the surrounding buttons blade and select put the four most common editing movements under one hand, without reaching for the keyboard.
You dislike using a mouse.
The trackball never moves, so it needs no clear desk space, and one finger on the ball covers the whole screen. If you already prefer a trackpad, this will feel like a considerable upgrade.
Don't buy it if...You want something to use straight from the box.
The defaults work fine, but the value lies in customisation, and setting up per-application profiles in Konnect takes time before the speed benefit kicks in.
You need to work away from a desk.
At 125 x 165mm and just under 450g, with no carry case supplied, this is a device that lives on a desk rather than one that travels in a bag.