News
- DaaS could be more effective than laptops for 95% of workers by 2027
- Hosted machines are twice as popular as they were in 2019
- DaaS spending could grow to $6bn by 2029
New Gartner research has suggested hosted PCs, otherwise known as Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), are now cheaper to operate than on-prem business laptops.
By 2027, Gartner expects DaaS to be cost-effective for around 95% of the workforce, up from 40% in 2019, with more users set to use hosted machines as their main workspace as a result (20%, compared with 10% in 2019).
However, for the time being, most organizations only deploy DaaS to a minority of employees to assist with securing remote work. But a growing emphasis on cost, operational efficiency and sustainability could change this.
More companies are considering DaaSGartner predicts DaaS spending to grow from $4.3 billion in 2025 to $6.0 billion in 2029, thanks to the fact that the total cost of ownership has now dropped below laptops for many use cases, especially with thin clients.
"DaaS solutions allow remote workers, offshore workers, third-party employees, contractors, frontline workers and office workers to access virtual desktops hosted in the cloud," Gartner explained.
Microsoft was rated as a top leader, with strengths in digital workplace, cloud and AI, and products including Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Microsoft Dev Box.
For Microsoft in particular, Gartner estimates that 60% of its DaaS clients belong to mid-sized organizations (100-4,999 employees), with larger companies (5,000+ employees) accounting for 30% and just 10% coming from smaller orgs (up to 99 employees).
"Gartner rarely speaks to an organization that is planning to deploy a new on-premises VDI solution. Net-new deployments are almost exclusively using DaaS, and on-premises deployments are either migrating to DaaS or moving to a cloud control plane, except for a few land-locked use cases," the company concluded.
Looking ahead, businesses are now looking into the cost-efficiency benefits of DaaS with scaling opportunities further amplifying the potential savings.
However, as a relatively small portion of the overall PC market that's in its early stages with limited regulation, there raises some questions around vendor lock-in and licensing complexity, meaning that early adopters could have to put up with headaches until regulators weigh in.
Via The Register
You might also like- PC shipments are back on the rise - act now before Trump tariffs kick in
- We've listed the best mobile workstations around today
- Need a desktop PC? Check out the best workstations
- A new report outlines changes to the Apple Watch 12
- We could get new sensors and an exterior redesign
- The wearable won't be launching until September 2026
It looks likely that the Apple Watch 11 will be unveiled sometime next month, if Apple sticks to its usual schedule, but a new report suggests that its 2026 successor is going to feature a pretty significant redesign.
This tip comes from a report in DigiTimes (via MacRumors), based on supply chain sources, although we don't get too much information about what it might involve – and this isn't a device that has changed much in terms of its looks through the years.
The article does mention an increased number of sensors, presumably for more accurate health and fitness tracking, or perhaps to add to the metrics that can be tracked. These additional sensors may form part of the redesign.
In the past we've heard rumors of an Apple Watch with a camera and an Apple Watch with a touch-sensitive glass frame, but these potential upgrades aren't specifically mentioned in the latest reporting from DigiTimes.
Battery boostThe Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Image credit: Future)The new article also mentions improved power efficiency too, which hopefully means we can look forward to better battery life with the Apple Watch 12, and perhaps the Apple Watch Ultra 4 (the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should arrive this year).
In terms of this year's model, the report does say that the Apple Watch 11 will be getting some Apple Intelligence features. However, based on what we've seen of watchOS 26, it seems likely that these will mostly be managed on a connected iPhone.
Given what DigiTimes is predicting for 2026, it seems the Apple Watch 11 might be a more minor upgrade. The publication does have a mixed track record for Apple gadget predictions though, so bear that in mind.
We'll no doubt get plenty more leaks and rumors about the Apple Watch 12 over the course of the next year, but before that we've got the Apple Watch 11, which should appear alongside the iPhone 17 handsets at some point in September.
You might also like- Floppy disks were officially deemed obsolete in 2010, yet persisted in surprising places for years
- Polymatt used CNC machining and PET film to craft a functioning magnetic storage disk
- Iron oxide coating allowed the handmade disk to store and retrieve basic magnetic data
Floppy disks, once a staple of personal and professional computing, have been phased out for over a decade - but while the technology was officially declared obsolete in 2010, some organizations kept using it surprisingly long.
The Japanese government only moved away from the format in 2024, while the German Navy followed suit the same year. In the United States, the last official use of 8-inch floppy disks for nuclear launch coordination ended in 2019, with San Franciso's government also finally cutting ties with floppies in 2024.
Against this backdrop of obsolescence, a YouTuber known as polymatt decided to recreate one from scratch, using modern tools and consumer-grade equipment.
Engineering a working floppy from the ground upPolymatt began the project by carefully measuring and modeling the disk enclosure and internal components using Shapr3D and MakeraCAM software.
He then cut aluminum parts with a Carvera Air CNC machine, ensuring precise tolerances for the mechanical structure.
For the magnetic disk surface, he laser-cut PET film and coated it with a suspension of iron oxide powder, replicating the material properties needed for magnetic data storage.
After assembling the components, he managed to magnetize the disk and write to it.
While the data handling capabilities were basic, the fact that a functioning magnetic storage medium emerged from raw materials marked a notable technical achievement.
The process was not without difficulties, but persistence and methodical experimentation allowed him to complete the build.
Today, cloud storage services allow vast amounts of data to be accessed from anywhere, without the physical limitations of older media.
SSDs deliver high-speed and durable storage in compact formats, while an external SSD offers portable capacity far exceeding what was once possible with floppy disks.
A single modern SSD can store millions of times more data than the recreated floppy, with speeds that make the older medium seem impractically slow by comparison.
While polymatt’s recreation is unlikely to be used in practical applications, it demonstrates the enduring appeal of hands-on engineering projects.
Building a floppy disk in 2025 serves more as a tribute to a pivotal era in computing than as a viable alternative to current storage methods.
For those who once relied on them, the familiar clunk of a floppy drive reading data is part of a technological heritage that shaped modern computing.
You might also likeMost modern robot vacuums don't just vacuum your floors – they can also mop them for you. This type of robovac is sometimes referred to as a 'hybrid robot vacuum', and it's increasingly difficult to find bots that don't offer mopping these days.
But how much should you focus on the mopping part? How does it work, and is it actually any good? I review robot vacuums for a living, and I've tested out cheap bots with the very simplest mops, right up to the very best robot vacuums on the market, with complex wet cleaning setups. Here's everything you need to know about robot vacuum mops, and if they're worth your time.
How does the mopping work on a robot vacuum?The exact setup varies by model, but essentially, there will be a mop pad (or two) that's fed water from a tank in the main part of the robot. The robot vacuum will pull the pad(s) across your floors to clean them.
Sometimes the pad might spin, vibrate, or press down to dislodge dirt. Some robovacs will vacuum at the same time as mopping – the idea being that it cuts down on overall cleaning time. Others can be set to mop after vacuuming, or just do one or the other.
If you opt for a more advanced dock type, it might refill the bot's onboard water tank for you, so you don't need to top it off yourself as frequently. It might also wash and dry your mop pads for you. However, with cheaper, more basic bots, you'll need to take care of all this yourself.
What kinds of mop are there?Some robot vacuums can mop much better than others. Here's a quick rundown of the main mop types, and my experience of how well each one cleans.
D-shaped padThis is one of the most common mop types. It consists of a fixed, D-shaped pad that can be cleaned and reused. The pad is fed with water from an onboard tank as it's dragged along the floor. On more advanced bots, this pad might vibrate or press down as it goes, to help dislodge dried-on dirt.
A fixed, D-shaped pad will do a decent wipe-down job (Image credit: Future)In general, I've found this style of mop pad pretty effective. It'll do a good job of wiping down your floors and picking up any lingering dirt. However, the dragging pad doesn't offer much by way of scrubbing – and especially so if it doesn't press down or vibrate – and because the pad isn't getting cleaned as it goes, if you have a spillage on the floor, it might end up getting dragged about a bit.
Two spinning discsAnother common type of robovac mop. Two disc-shaped pads are attached to the base of the bot and spin to scrub away dirt. They're fed with water from an onboard tank as they clean.
Spinning circular pads tend to be better at scrubbing (Image credit: Future)This is probably my favorite mop type. It's similar to a D-shaped pad, but the rotation means these mops are a little better at scrubbing; some can even handle dried-on stains.
The pads can be removed and popped into the washing machine for a deep clean. However, because they're not getting cleaned as they go, big spillages will likely end up getting spread around, and I wouldn't use this kind of mop to tackle sticky or smelly substances.
Rotating rollerThis is a less common type of robot vacuum mop, consisting of a mop pad on a track, like a tank. Fresh water is applied as the pad rotates around, but where this mop style has the edge on other setups is that there's a scraper that siphons off dirty water and any general gunk that's been picked up, too.
(Image credit: Future)Roller mops are relatively new to the market right now, but are getting more popular. I wonder if we'll start seeing a lot more of them before long.
I haven't had a chance to test out a bot with a roller mop yet, but my reviewers who have done so have been impressed. In our Eureka J20 review, our tester found it "did a fantastic job of cleaning up spills," although noted that it wasn't as successful with dried-on dirt, suggesting that, like most robovac mops, it's more of a wiper than a scrubber.
Just a wet wipeIt's rare to see, but some budget bots just have space to attach a wet wipe, which is then dragged across the floor. This is the least effective type of mop.
The pads have a smooth surface rather than a grippy one, and do very little by way of scrubbing. They also can't be washed or reused, so you're generating waste if you opt for this style of mop, and you'll need to factor in the ongoing cost of replacing the wipes.
Wet wipe style mops are more fiddly, and only provide a light wipe (Image credit: Future)The most high-profile brand to use this approach is Switchbot with its mini robovacs. I've yet to test one of these models out myself, and opinions differ as to whether this kind of mopping is worth the effort at all.
Our SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum reviewer called it "perfunctory at best" and commented that he couldn't see anyone bothering to purchase a new set of wet wipes once the provided pack ran out.
However, my teammate Cat Ellis finds the setup useful for everyday cleaning: "It definitely isn't a substitute for proper mopping, but I've found it very handy for keeping everyday dust under control on my dark floors (which show up every speck of dirt). I'm often surprised by just how much it manages to pick up in the hallway, even when I've vacuumed recently."
Is the mopping any good?Generally, my experience is that robot vacuum mopping is good enough to be a significant effort-saver – especially if you have lots of hard flooring that requires regular mopping. They're great for everyday maintenance cleaning, but not good enough that you won't need to resort to manual cleaning occasionally.
Regardless of mop type, I wouldn't leave one to tackle a big spill (it'll get stuck on the mop cloth and end up being spread around the floor) or a dried-on stain (the bot won't scrub hard enough to clear it).
Will my carpets get wet?Maybe – depends which model you go for. Mid-range robot vacuums and above can often detect when they're going over carpet, and lift their mop pads so they're not dragging. Some premium bots have magnetic mops that they'll drop off in the dock when tasked with vacuuming carpet.
Some bots have a thin, removable water tank, and the mopping is 'on' whenever it's attached (Image credit: Future)However, cheaper, more basic robot vacuums will drag their damp mop pads over carpets if you don't remove them. On some, the water is automatically 'on' when the mop pad and/or water tank is attached, so you'll need to shut the bot in the room you need mopping so it doesn't try and give your carpets and rugs the same treatment.
Will the mops start to smell?If you leave them damp and don't clean them, yes. More basic robot vacuums will need to have their mop pads removed to dry after mopping, and you'll also want to hand-wash them or run them through the washing machine fairly regularly to keep them fresh and hygienic.
More advanced robot vacuums have docks that will take care of some mop maintenance for you. For example, they might be able to wash the mop pads – sometimes with hot water, to cut through grease – and dry them off, too. That cuts down the amount of intervention required from you. You'll pay extra for these kinds of features, though.
More advanced docks can take care cleaning the mop pads for you (Image credit: Future)Can you use floor cleaner?Sometimes, but generally no. Most hybrid robot vacuums recommend you just use water, although it's worth checking the manufacturer's instructions as to whether it's okay to mix in cleaning solution.
The most advanced bots will let you use cleaning fluid, but they'll stress that only their proprietary cleaner is allowed, and it's invariably very expensive. Some will have a cleaning fluid tank that sits alongside the water tanks in the dock, and dispenses fluid evenly as the bot's onboard tanks are refilled.
You might also like...- Perplexity AI stunned the industry with an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer for Google Chrome
- Chrome browser remains a key part of Google’s AI tools and long-term LLM development strategy
- Perplexity’s own valuation is less than half of the amount it offered to acquire Chrome
Perplexity AI has attracted attention with an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser.
The proposal comes despite Chrome not being officially for sale, and its deep-set integration into Google’s broader AI strategy, not to mention its wider software platform.
Analysts view the bid as an ambitious move aimed at boosting publicity, given Chrome’s role in driving search traffic, supporting AI tools, and collecting user data essential for Google’s long-term machine learning and large language model (LLM) development.
Bid details and competitive implicationsThe proposed acquisition terms reportedly commit to keeping Chromium, the underlying browser code, open source, with Perplexity saying it would invest $3 billion over two years and maintain Chrome’s current default search engine.
The company claims these steps would protect user choice while potentially easing regulatory concerns.
However, the offer is below the $50 billion valuation that some industry figures, including DuckDuckGo’s CEO, believe Chrome might fetch if divestiture were ever mandated.
Regulatory context plays a huge role in this situation, as the US Justice Department has pursued a Chrome divestiture as part of remedies in a broader antitrust case against Google, which was found to hold an unlawful monopoly in search.
Federal Judge Amit Mehta is expected to issue a ruling on remedies soon, but experts suggest a sale order could face years of appeals.
Experts also claim that higher courts, including the D.C. Circuit and potentially the Supreme Court, tend to be skeptical of forced divestitures.
Perplexity’s own financial position is raising questions, mainly because the company was founded just three years ago.
It raised around $1 billion from backers such as Nvidia and SoftBank and was last valued at $14 billion.
It has not disclosed exactly how it would finance the acquisition, but says multiple unnamed funds have offered full financing.
The scale of the bid, more than twice its valuation, recalls Perplexity’s earlier high-profile but unrealized proposal to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations.
The bid also highlights shifting dynamics in how people interact with the web.
Browsers, once considered stable infrastructure, have regained strategic importance as more users turn to AI tools and chatbot interfaces for information.
By acquiring Chrome’s three billion users, Perplexity could potentially accelerate the adoption of its AI-driven browser, Comet, which is currently limited to waitlisted users and premium subscribers.
For now, it appears the bid is primarily a publicity stunt, and the likelihood of Google accepting the offer is very low, as Chrome remains integral to Google’s AI roadmap, including features like “Overviews” that provide AI-generated search summaries.
If Perplexity’s bid is mainly a visibility strategy, it may succeed in drawing attention to Comet, but it will likely not scratch Chrome’s dominance.
Via Reuters
You might also like- These are the best VPNs with antivirus available now
- Here's a list of the best firewalls around today
- Linux at risk – recent Intel layoffs threaten key projects, experts warn
- SMÅ Printer simplifies printing with only three buttons and a single LED for status updates
- The top-feeding paper design saves desk space while holding up to 120 sheets reliably
- Maintenance is intuitive, allowing one-handed ink replacement without spills or awkward handling
Our printers have long been seen as bulky, frustrating gadgets that occupy too much desk space and often require complicated maintenance.
The SMÅ printer, designed by Jakob Höxtermann, challenges these assumptions with a design that emphasizes simplicity, sustainability, and compactness.
Unlike many home and business printers that are built with glued components, the SMÅ uses screws to hold its parts together, making it easier to take apart and recycle at the end of its life.
Streamlined functionality - not for heavy duty printingTraditional printers often overwhelm users with buttons, menus, and unclear indicators.
The SMÅ simplifies this with only three buttons: power, stop, and a setup option for occasional adjustments.
A single LED communicates the printer’s status using intuitive colors, allowing users to know instantly when everything is ready, when ink needs replacing, or when a paper jam occurs.
The design of this printer encourages reduced paper and ink usage, while its straightforward interface makes it easy to operate.
Remember the Panasonic SP-70 and SPV series with a vertical screen printer? The SMÅ printer recreates this vertical layout, which sets it apart visually and functionally from standard horizontal designs.
By feeding paper from the top, the SMÅ conserves valuable desk space while also offering storage for up to 120 sheets without the need for additional trays.
A transparent extension ensures that stacked paper remains stable, which is a subtle but practical feature often overlooked in other printers.
Maintenance is equally straightforward: replacing ink involves lifting the outer shell and sliding in a new cartridge with one hand, avoiding messy spills or awkward handling.
Visually, the SMÅ adopts a minimalist style with soft edges that blend naturally into contemporary home or office environments.
It does not dominate a desk or appear as an industrial tool, which can make it easier to integrate into spaces where aesthetics matter.
This printer pushes intuitiveness and can be set up with smartphones or PCs.
That said, this device does not include advanced features found in high-end business printers and will not cater to heavy-duty needs.
Via Yanko Design
You might also like- We've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing on the market today
- And here are the best monitors for programming we've found
- Google unveils another huge AI spending spree - tech giant is splashing out $9 billion in Oklahoma
The iPhone Camera app is a confusing mess in iOS 18 – so when Apple announced a big overhaul for iOS 26 I was delighted. The redesign was long overdue – but of course Apple still had to deliver on it. And for the most part, it has.
I've been test-driving the new Camera app in the iOS 26 public beta and can happily report that Apple has made big strides on improving an app that previously felt much like my garden shed: it contained several years of clutter and no real attempt at organization.
The reworked Camera app looks very different, so much so that you'll initially wonder where it's tidied everything to. Overall, I'd call it a success so far, but with a few reservations…
The likes1. The clean minimalismThe iOS Camera app (left) is a lot busier than the new iOS 26 one (right) (Image credit: Apple)First, the good news – the new Camera app in iOS 26 is much cleaner and simpler than the old one in iOS 18.
There are now fewer buttons to accidentally press, and the consistency of the Liquid Glass redesign makes everything feel more cohesive and less confusing.
To help reduce accidental taps, Apple has opened up more space around the shutter button. Fortunately, the shutter still supports its usual shortcuts – hold and swipe right to shoot video, or hold and swipe left for burst mode. Fun fact: did you know the latter is called QuickTake, after Apple's forgotten digital camera?
But perhaps the biggest improvement over the old Camera app are the new Liquid Glass menus...
2. The pop-up menus(Image credit: Apple)My least favorite feature of the current Camera app is its Camera Control menu. That's the one you open by tapping the confusing shortcut arrow at the top of the screen, or by swiping up anywhere in the viewfinder.
Fortunately, Apple has given this a complete overhaul. Gone is the little horizontal row of hieroglyphics for features like Photographic Styles and Night Mode.
Now, when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal a much clearer grid of options (housed inside Liquid Glass, naturally), with labels for each. Simply, it's much better.
Unfortunately, the other big minimalist change – the simple Photo and Video tabs – is slightly less successful, but more on that in the dislikes...
3. The improved video menu(Image credit: Apple)I tend to shoot more photos than video on my iPhone, but I've always been frustrated by the fiddly video settings menu in the iOS Camera app.
Luckily, that's now been fixed in iOS 26. Rather than having to tap the resolution or frame rate several times to scroll through various options, you now get the improved Liquid Glass panel above.
Like in Photo mode, you can swipe up to access separate video options (flash, exposure, and action mode), which are now easier to understand at a glance. The Video experience is still straightforward overall compared to Apple's Final Cut Camera app, but that makes sense for a point-and-shoot experience.
The dislikes1. The new nav bar(Image credit: Apple)In theory, I love the simplicity of the new navigation bar at the bottom of the iOS 26 Camera app. It starts with just Video and Photo options visible. To reveal the other modes – Timelapse, Slo-Mo, Cinematic, Portrait, and Pano, to name all of them – you just swipe left or right.
But a couple of niggles have given it a bit of a learning curve. Firstly, the default scrolling setting sees both the Liquid Glass toggle and the navigation bar behind it moving simultaneously, which is a little disorientating. It also makes it difficult to see the options underneath your thumb.
(Image credit: Apple)Fortunately, in more recent betas, Apple has added a new option in the Camera Settings in a section called Mode Switching, where you'll find a toggle for 'Classic Mode Switching'. This makes it behave more like the previous Camera app, where you're directly swiping the wheel underneath, while the toggle stays central.
Hopefully, this makes it to the final version of the Camera app. I initially also found it tricky to see the navigation bar options underneath my thumb, but then discovered you can still scroll through them by swiping the screen instead. While minimalism is an improvement overall, I think some will be initially flummoxed and find it trickier to choose some of the photo and video modes.
2. The lack of a Pro mode(Image credit: Apple)I've been hoping to see a Pro camera mode come to iPhones for a few years now, but iOS 26 has gone firmly in the other direction. Does that potentially open the door for a photo equivalent of Apple's free Final Cut Camera app for video? Maybe, but there's no sign of one of those either.
To be fair, some of the best camera apps like Halide, ProCamera, and Camera Obscura more than adequately fill that gap, and Apple is perhaps wary of Sherlocking them, which is when Apple kills a popular app by building the functionality into its own software.
But if we have a simple Liquid Glass toggle for Video and Photo, why can't there also be one for Basic and Pro photo modes? That would be a lot easier than switching apps for something like manual focusing, and would turn the iPhone into an even better rival to the best compact cameras.
That still doesn't look likely, so for now to the best alternative is to set up your iPhone Camera app with some of the useful tools hidden in the settings menu. I typically turn on the Grid and Level, select Apple ProRaw in the Formats section, and then go to Preserve Settings to enable Camera Mode and Exposure Adjustment, making my iPhone behave more like a camera.
But for more tweaks, check out my guide on how to set up your iPhone 16 (or older model) to take great photos.
You might also like- iOS 26 beta 6 brings more surprise upgrades to your iPhone – and I'm already using my favorite one
- iOS 26 reveals a new real-time translation gesture for AirPods 4 and Pro 2, and it could make your French phrase book a thing of the past
- iOS 26 beta gives Apple Maps an AI upgrade – and it might be enough to tempt you from Google Maps
- Officially renewed in July
- Release date yet to be revealed
- No trailer released yet
- Main cast expected to return
- Season 2 may follow more than one of the book series
- Hope for future seasons
Murderbot season 2 is officially on the way, which is great news (and no surprise) given season 1's success.
The first ten episodes, based on the novels by Martha Wells, saw Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) unlock his full potential and subsequently setting out on a path to discover who he truly is. Oh, while murdering anyone or anything that tries to kill the team he's assigned to protect.
It's a super hit for Apple TV+, scoring 96% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, and vying for a spot in the best Apple TV+ shows. And given how season 1 left matters, there's plenty more to explore – and plenty more novels from Wells to seek inspiration.
Here's everything we know so far about Murderbot season 2 from release date prediction, expected cast, plot rumors and more.
Potential spoilers follow for Murderbot season 1.
Murderbot season 2 release dateA post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)
A photo posted by on
A Murderbot season 2 release date is a little while away yet considering season 2 only wrapped on July 11. But, what we do know is that the sci-fi comedy thriller has been officially renewed.
Just a day before season 1's epic finale, Apple TV+ confirmed the show's renewal with head of programming, Matt Cherniss, saying: "Chris, Paul, Alexander and the entire 'Murderbot' team have delivered a brilliantly original, addictive, witty and vibrant adaptation that has captured the imagination of audiences everywhere.
"We can't wait to unveil what's next for Murderbot and, of course, 'Sanctuary Moon' in season two."
If I were to make a Murderbot season 2 release date prediction, I'd say since season 1 premiered in May 2025, we'll be looking at late 2026/early 2027 before we get to see what Murderbot gets up to next.
Murderbot season 2 trailer: is there one?A Murderbot season 2 trailer isn't flying in just yet (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)There's no Murderbot season 2 trailer to share – and there won't be for a while. For season 1, the trailer came out, as is usually the case, just a month before the show premiered on Apple TV+.
So, I wouldn't expect a trailer until nearer to the release date that we don't yet have! I'll be sure to update here when it does though.
Murderbot season 2 predicted castThe main cast are all expected to return (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)Full spoilers follow for Murderbot season 1.
The Murderbot season 2 cast is most likely going to consist of the following main characters from season 1:
- Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot
- Noma Dumezweni as Mensah
- David Dastmalchian as Gurathin
- Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee
- Akshay Khanna as Ratthi
- Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj
- Tattiawna Jones as Arada
- John Cho as Captain
- DeWanda Wise as Navigation Unit
- Clark Gregg as Lieutenant
- Jack McBrayer as Navigation Officer
It's seems incredibly likely that the stars of the TV show within a TV show 'Sanctuary Moon' will return, too, considering Matt Cherniss's statement after the season 2 renewal.
Murderbot season 2 potential plot synopsis and rumorsA new path for Murderbot? (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)Major spoilers follow for Murderbot season 1.
Murderbot season 1 was full of sci-fi adventure, weird laughs, bug blasting and plenty of binge-watching episodes of 'Sanctuary Moon'.
However when it comes to the plot for season 2, the show, much like its titular character, may start to form its own path.
Speaking to ComicBook, Murderbot's executive product David S. Goyer said: "The only difference between the books and next season is that the economics of making a TV show requires you to book series regulars.
"Now that we have done a season and have X amount of series regulars, most of those characters aren't in the second book. You might see a little bit of a remix of a couple of the books."
And so, while there's rumors of Murderbot season 2 picking up on the second novel of Martha Wells's series, Artificial Condition, and season 1 ending true to how the first book did, it might not be that linear.
If it does follow along with book two though, the official synopsis reads: "It has a dark past―one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.
"Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks…"
The Murderbot season 1 finale set viewers up with a strong plot line to pick up on for episodes to come though.
Murderbot, after nearly dying and saving Mensah's life, wakes up with his memory wiped. With the team coming to save him and even Gurathin stepping up to help Murderbot recapture what he's lost, the future for Murderbot looks hopeful.
When they do gain Murderbot back, buying him from The Company, they let him be free. But, what will Murderbot do with this newfound freedom?
Armed with his autonomy and some serious killing skills, he boarded another ship. And while this may be the one mentioned in the book two synopsis, it's a plot kept firmly under wraps.
But, the season 1 finale was an incredibly thoughtful conclusion and after an intense battle in the penultimate episode, it stripped the pace back to let Murderbot feel all his feelings. And, I'm sure, there's plenty more of this to explore in Murderbot season 2.
Will Murderbot get more seasons on Apple TV+?No news on future seasons of Murderbot, just yet (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)There's no news currently on what lies beyond Murderbot season 2, which is not all that surprising given it only got renewed for its second outing in July.
But, in conversation with ComicBook, Goyer did mention something that could possibly, hopefully, hint at more: "I would say there are five other books that Martha Wells has written, so there’s a lot more material. I don’t know if the show will last five, six seasons."
Sure, if Murderbot season 2 becomes more of a mashup of Wells's iconic series, that may limit how many seasons are left in the pipeline. But, with a stellar cast and unique premise behind it, there's perhaps space for at least a couple more seasons.
Time will tell and I imagine we won't hear much more about it until at least season 2 premieres. For now, I'll emulate Murderbot's enhanced senses and listen out for any news on the ground.
For more Apple TV+ coverage, read our guides on Ted Lasso season 4, Foundation season 3, Presumed Innocent season 2, and Silo season 3.