Google is this week unveiling an enhanced client-side encryption (CSE) standard across its widely-used Gmail service which marks its 21st birthday on 1 April that it hopes may render the long-in-the-tooth Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) standard for end-to-end encrypted email (E2EE) obsolete once and for all.S/MIME is used for public-key encryption and signing of MIME data and was originally developed by RSA many years ago. Today, although S/MIME functionality is widely used, it is not always enabled by default for most email services and it only works when both sending and receiving parties meet the standard.This is because both IT teams need to acquire and manage the needed certificates and deploy them to each user, added to which users then have to figure out whether they and the recipient have S/MIME set up and then exchange certificates before they can exchange encrypted emails.And while alternatives such as built-in features from email providers or point solutions exist, they suffer from similar drawbacks.To Googles mind, this limits the use of E2EE to organisations that have significant IT resources to call on and strong use cases for sending encrypted mail, and even then they can frequently only do so using workarounds that create fragmented, limited and sub-optimal experiences for everyone involved.When you talk to any IT admins, theyll tell you a few things about encryption, said Neil Kumaran, group product manager for Gmail security at Google. First, they will probably tell you that for some subset of their data, they need to be fully encrypted in some way usually because of regulatory obligation and maybe because of contractual obligation.The second thing theyll tell you is that the current state of encryption is super hard to implement across the email ecosystem. And even if they implement some of these solutions outside of ideal use cases, there are usually holes in their encryption posture. The TLDR is this is widely felt across our customer base.Google said its solution to this effectively democratises encryption while requiring minimal effort for both IT teams and users, abstracting away old headaches associated with encryption while enhancing data control, privacy and sovereignty.Googles solution is a new encryption model that it said removes the need for complex certificate requirements or complex admin rights and enables users to send fully-encrypted messages to any user on any platform.The idea is that we are creating sort of a protective bubble for emails that feels automatic to the point that it just feels like normal email, Julian Duplant, Gmail security product manager, told Computer Weekly. Weve created a service that makes the organisations that use this functionality become the total gatekeeper for that data.With the new bubble technology, Google said it is first putting control of the certificates, or keys, needed to encrypt or decrypt messages into the hands of its customers, relinquishing its own ability to access the messages for good.Second, it is giving them control of the user directory that decides who has access to the keys.Third, it has created a new guest functionality where customers can automatically generate temporary accounts in their organisation for external recipients to access and decrypt the message subject to the customers rules.What that looks like as a functionality is, if youre sending to a recipient that has Gmail, whether its Workspace or Consumer, theyre going to be able automatically decrypt that message based on the organisations rules. [But] if the organisation is any other email provider in the world, theyre going to receive is an email notification saying Julian has sent you an encrypted message, click here to read it, said Duplant.When the user clicks that message, the browser will open and they will see a safe Gmail interface where they can decrypt the message and write their own reply. The best part about it is were doing this in a way that doesnt require S/MIME. All that certificate exchange that would have happened before no longer has to be done. It feels automatic, and it gives customers the ability to have their own sort of safe space and control of that data.It is also important to note that when the recipient has S/MIME configured, Gmail will still send the email via S/MIME as it already does.Google believes this approach offers a more comprehensive encryption solution for its customers, which has the beneficial side effect of reducing friction and lowering the barrier to doing cyber security effectively.Another side effect of this approach to client-side encryption, said Google, is that in making its customers the ultimate arbiters of who can access their email data, it can help them safeguard themselves against, for example, unwarranted intrusions by governments demanding the service provider hand over the data.Google said this will hopefully heighten customer compliance with data sovereignty regulations, export controls and other requirements such as HIPAA in the US.The new technology is available today in beta for organisations using Gmail internally, but in the coming weeks users will be able to send E2EE emails to any Gmail inbox and to any email inbox later in the year. More information is available from Google and organisations can sign up here for the beta programme.Read more about encryptionEuropean telco standards body ETSI launches its first post-quantum cryptography cyber standard, covering the security of critical data and communications.The NCSC urges service providers, large organisations and critical sectors to start thinking today about how they will migrate to post-quantum cryptography over the next decade.Russia is using phishing attacks to compromise encrypted Signal Messenger services used by targets in Ukraine. Experts warn that other encrypted app users are at risk.

There's no harsher test for a power station than taking it to live completely off-grid, and that's what I did with the new Anker Solix F3800. Here's how it fared.

In addition to asking, tools like VPNs can help determine whether your internet provider is intentionally slowing down your connection.

"Thundermail" will be part of a suite of Thunderbird Pro services, as the team behind the venerable Mozilla email client begins building a complete ecosystem.

Couple playing having fun playing games at a gaming arcade.gettyThe dating app economy is in a slump. Despite advancements in AI, generative models, and algorithmic matchmaking, users feel more disconnected than ever. We're living through what could be called a dating app recession, where people aren't just swiping lessthey're giving up entirely.As sex and dating coach Myisha Battle points out in her recent TIME article, dating apps are becoming increasingly "disposable." The problem? Dating apps have over-indexed on AI while missing the most critical ingredient: meaningful connection.AI As Enhancer, Not ReplacementAI should enhance the dating app experience not hijack the process of finding love and connection. gettyThe issue isn't that AI exists in the dating ecosystemit's that many platforms have positioned it as the central experience rather than a supportive tool. AI can moderate content, spot harmful behavior, or suggest potential matches based on genuine compatibility factors. But when AI becomes the core experiencewhen your AI is chatting with someone else's AIyou lose the beautiful, chaotic, surprising nature of real human chemistry.Even if AI could factor in biometric markerslike the subtle scent profiles we're naturally drawn toit still wouldn't replicate the depth of real-life interaction. We don't need dating agents who date on our behalf. We need dating experiences that help us show up as ourselves.The Experiential Future Of DatingThe solution isn't layering in more AI; it's designing shared experiences that foster organic ... More connection.gettyThe solution isn't layering in more AI; it's designing shared experiences that foster organic connection. The viral success of Matchbox dating parties demonstrates this perfectlythese in-person events have exploded in popularity precisely because they prioritize genuine interaction over algorithmic matching. At these events, participants engage in structured activities and conversations, creating an atmosphere where connections form naturally.The future of dating is experiential, both online and offline:Virtual spaces where users can interact through cooperative activities, creative building, or casual conversationGame mechanics that reveal personality traits through how people play solve problems, and collaborateIn-person events that bring the digital experience into real life, like the Matchbox parties that have gone viral on social mediaGaming: The Missing Piece In Modern DatingIts estimated that 1 in 3 players has developed a romantic relationship through gaming.gettyAt its core, dating is already a game. Speed dating? A structured challenge. Flirting? A playful interaction. Most people are playing games on dating apps, just not the right ones.Its estimated that 1 in 3 players has developed a romantic relationship through gaming, with 42% of Gen Z gamers saying theyve made a friend in-game who later became a significant other. While the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) found that 39% of adults 18 and older say they met a good friend, spouse, or significant other through video games. Over a fifth of 1624-year-olds in London are now more likely to play online games on a date night over traditional dates like going to the movies or out for dinner. While other reports claim that 43% of gamers in the U.S. said they developed feelings for someone they played with in an online game. That same survey found that 79% of respondents believe that relationships formed through gaming are just as valid as those started in person or on dating apps.I myself pitched a dating and gaming startup called Player Two to several VCs last year, as the dating app where its ok to play games. None of the VCs were keen to enter the dating app market even with Gen Alpha just starting their dating journeys and are looking for new ways to connect.One of the problems is that most current dating apps lack the depth, participatory and immersive qualities of actual games.The data is clear: More and more relationships are forming or expanding in virtual spaces. Platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and even the highly anticipated GTA 6 are evolving into social hubs where people meet, interact, and form bonds.Imagine a dating platform where:Users explore virtual spaces together, solving puzzles or completing missions. How about cooking a virtual meal together or doing virtual bowling before you meet in the physical world?Mini-games help break the ice and reveal aspects of personalityShared virtual experiences offer a "pre-connection," where you learn about someone through how they playAI enhancesnot replaceshuman interaction, facilitating connection rather than dictating itThis model would transform dating from a transactional experience into a journey of discovery, where users build chemistry through play before meeting in person. You can learn a lot about someone when you go go to an escape room or play bowling together, why not try it out virtually before being stuck physically with that person for an hour in escape room?Building The Next Generation Of Dating PlatformsThe future of dating doesnt need more AI; what it needs is more connections and shared experiences. ... More dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesIf dating apps want to survive the current slump, they need to, lets say MUST, move beyond AI-driven curation and just using AI as a wingman and into experience-driven connection. The next generation of dating platforms won't look like digital catalogsthey'll feel like digital playgrounds that eventually lead to meaningful real-world connections. Ask any younger GenZer or Gen Alpha kid where they spend their time with their friends and theyll show you exactly what the future holds.I recently came across several AI-related roles at Match Group (Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid) and eagerly applied, as I believe that leveraging tech, not just AI, can can be radically improve the dating app experience. One of the role focused on building the next big thing in dating through end-to-end AI features and innovation and was presented as an exciting opportunity to shape how millions of people connect and form meaningful relationships around the world. I truly believe that the future of dating will belong to platforms, companies and brands that embrace gaming, virtual socialization, interactive storytelling, and experiential IRL events that go beyond just the swipe and the impression of the an endless see of possible love matches.Its time to stop letting AI do all the work, or relying only on AI infused dating and your AI agent dating someone elses AI agent and start letting people play, connect, and discover each other through shared experiences. Because, ultimately, human connection and real human love isn't found in code and the ones and zeros. It's found in the game of human connection. The future of dating doesnt need more AI; what it needs is more connections and shared experiences.

Taking a tech industry titan back to the heights from which it once reigned is no easy task for anyone. Just ask Pat Gelsinger, former CEO and multi-decade veteran of Intel, who was tapped to lead the turnaround the company realized it needed a little over four years ago.Gelsinger, widely seen as the right choice for the role at the time, laid out a plan to get both the company's products and semiconductor manufacturing prowess back on track. He arguably made solid progress on both goals. Unfortunately, the company's board of directors and the public markets didn't feel the improvements were happening fast enough, and he was forced to depart from the company last December.Fast forward a few months to the company's appropriately named Vision conference, where newly appointed CEO Lip-Bu Tan took the stage in his first major appearance to share where he wants the company to go.But unsurprisingly, he's plans are not radically different from the plans Gelsinger initiated, but there are some key adjustments that could drive the kind of faster changes tech industry watchers and the markets are eager to see.Like Gelsinger, Lip-Bu Tan is a Silicon Valley veteran. He started a successful venture capital fund (Walden International), served on the boards of numerous tech companies, and most notably, led Cadence a leader in EDA chip design software as CEO. During his 12-year tenure there, he pulled off a very successful turnaround. That experience makes him a strong fit for Intel, given Cadence's crucial role in chip design, manufacturing, IP, and technology leadership. // Related StoriesAt Intel, of course, the stakes are significantly higher. For over 50 years, the company has been seen as a tech industry leader, driving some of the most important computing advances in client devices, servers, and the cloud and, until recently, leading in chip manufacturing.Also see: Intel's comeback plan: Panther Lake in 2025, Nova Lake in 2026, says CEO Lip-Bu TanRecognizing this, and building on the foundation that Gelsinger laid out, Lip-Bu Tan made it clear he believes Intel has a vital role to play in both creating new semiconductor products and operating as a chip foundry not just for its own chips but also for other major chip design firms.It's a big, difficult, long-term goal and one that's definitely sparked some healthy debate but ultimately, I believe, the right one for the company. Especially given the ongoing geopolitical tensions that continue to worry many tech industry observers, there's no question that the U.S. needs a major player in chip manufacturing.Intel is the only real option. To put it simply, Intel and its semiconductor manufacturing efforts are too important to fail or to disappear. Now, it may be that Intel spins off the foundry business into an independent entity at a later time, but for now, it seems clear and Lip-Bu Tan emphasized that it's not going anywhere anytime soon.The continued push in chip manufacturing is particularly important and timely, as the company is finally on the verge of regaining a leadership position in advanced process technologies. The upcoming 18A process still slated for release at the end of this year with Intel's Panther Lake CPUs for laptops brings several key innovations, including backside power delivery and RibbonFET transistors, that are currently exclusive to Intel. Together, these should allow Intel to produce chips that are both faster and more efficient than those made using TSMC's 2nm process.The big unanswered question for the foundry business, though, is whether Intel can convince other major chip designers think Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Marvell, etc. to commit to significant production volumes. At the moment, most seem to be testing the waters with both 18A and the future 14A process the company previously announced, but closing those deals will be a major test for the new CEO. With a foundry-focused event scheduled for the end of April, expectations are high for some real news on that front.On the product side, Intel's current roadmap looks solid by most accounts, but the challenge will be maintaining momentum. There are also plenty of questions around which projects Lip-Bu Tan might cancel, restart, or launch.His Vision speech offered some hints, touching on the growing importance of AI acceleration, robotics, and more. He also talked about revitalizing Intel's culture, aiming to make it an engineering-driven company once again one with the nimbleness and speed of a startup. All of these are lofty goals, but the real test will be how well he can execute on those cultural and product goals.And while products matter, one of the most important things Intel needs to regain is the industry's confidence. The past few years have been tough, and the uncertainty surrounding Intel's future has arguably dragged down broader tech industry momentum especially in the PC market. If Lip-Bu Tan can restore confidence in Intel then that will be an extremely big step forward. In fact, that's likely the first impact that the new CEO can make... and hopes are high that he's the right person to do that.Ultimately, the question will boil down to how Lip-Bu Tan's vision for the "new Intel" can carry the company through what will undoubtedly be a tough few years. The question isn't just what kind of products it can create and what kinds of business it can land in its foundry business, but also how the company redefines itself in the AI computing era, where many of the company's traditional strengths matter less than they once did.The tools are clearly there. The motivation seems to be as well. So let's hope this "new" Intel can reclaim its spot as a critical innovator and tech industry leader.Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on X @bobodtech

What just happened? Some significant changes are coming to Thunderbird. Mozilla, which financially resurrected the free, open-source email client a few years ago, will soon unveil a new set of "professional" services designed to enhance the basic email management features of the program. In 2023, Mozilla developers announced they were "remaking" Thunderbird's software architecture, aiming to modernize its crumbling and unsustainable codebase. The company later confirmed plans to add new paid professional accounts available for all Thunderbird users.Mozilla Managing Director Ryan Sipes said they have named the new bundle of services "Thunderbird Pro," which includes several new features. Meanwhile, Mozilla is rebranding the email client to "Thundermail." The Pro package expands and enhances what Thunderbird has to offer its users.At first, the company will offer Thunderbird Pro for free "to consistent community contributors." Everyone else will have to pay for the pro tier. However, once Thunderbird Pro has built a sustainable user base, Mozilla will consider adding limited free tiers.Thunderbird was losing users regularly to "rich" ecosystems with local clients and remote services. Gmail and Office 365 are the main competitors. While these platforms lock their customers into their ecosystems, Thunderbird Pro will supposedly offer a 100-percent open source, freedom-respective alternative for those seeking and all-in-one experience.Thunderbird Pro will include the following services:Thunderbird AppointmentThunderbird SendThunderbird AssistThundermailThunderbird Appointment is a scheduling tool that allows users to send a link to someone as an invitation to a calendar appointment. The service should make meeting with other people more streamlined, Sipes noted, adding that he and his team weren't happy with the currently available tools. // Related StoriesThunderbird Send is a spiritual rebirth of Firefox Send, the file-sharing service Mozilla shut down in 2020. The development team rebuilt the project to offer more direct methods of sending files.Sipes described Thunderbird Assist as an experimental AI service. He was vague about the details, so it may still be in early development. He said users would have access to some unnamed AI features remotely processed by Flower AI. More powerful devices will have the option to run AI models locally.Finally, Thundermail is the "new" email client akin to Gmail or Outlook. Sipes believes the revamped service can provide a better service than any of its competitors while adhering to Mozilla's core values. Thundermail is built on the open-source software stack of Stalwart, improving its basic capabilities as well.

The Beatles are coming to theaters in three years.During Sonys CinemaCon presentation, Sam Mendes announced that his four Beatles movies will be released in theaters in April 2028. Officially titled The Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Event, Mendes revealed the cast: Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.Mendes then invited the four actors onstage to speak about the movies.Recommended VideosThe official logline reads: Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary. Each of the four movies will tell the Beatles story from the perspective of one of their members.The rollout forThe Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Eventis unknown. Its unclear if the movies will release on the same day or one per week throughout April. The four movies are being described as the first bingeable moment in cinema.Theyre four very different human beings, Mendes said about the Beatles via BBC. Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply. But together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history.The Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes.Harris Dickinson (John Lennon)Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney)Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr)Joseph Quinn (George Harrison)In theatres April 2028. #TheBeatlesFourFilmCinematicEvent pic.twitter.com/mREL0nPcfC Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 1, 2025On why he decided to make four movies instead of one, Mendes explained, I just felt the story of the band was too huge to fit into a single movie, and that turning it into a TV mini-series just somehow didnt feel right.Mendes will direct all four Beatles movies and produce through his Neal Street Productions banner with Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the biopics. Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full rights to the bands music and life stories.Mendes mentioned during the presentation that it will take over a year to shoot all four movies.Editors RecommendationsThis Fantastic Four star is the top choice to play George Harrison in The Beatles movies

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsLand of leaksA string of strategic leaksIn the hands of influencersTalking watches in a tech-forward wayAs a journalist who covers mobile technology, the release of a new Rolex watch wouldnt normally be something Id write about, unless the brand suddenly made an unexpected push into smartwatches. While the Rolex Land Dweller is not a connected watch, the situation leading up to its announcement and the way it has been presented to the public afterwards, is right out of Apple and Samsungs playbook, which makes it fascinating. Let me take you through how luxury watches and mobile tech have crossed over in a most unusual way.Roger Federer spotted wearing the Rolex Land Dweller Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsBrand new products leaking ahead of announcement is part of the mobile tech landscape. Whether its Apple or ZTE, information ranging from benchmark tests to dummy devices, and even the actual device itself being spotted before its official is both normal and expected. This information comes our way through well-connected individuals, sources inside the supply chain, and some more unconventional methods, such as sneaky spy shots.Recommended VideosOver the past weeks the new Rolex Land Dweller was gradually leaked prior to its official announcement. The leaks followed what we would consider a fairly standard pattern, starting with blurry photos with hints about what was to come almost obscured in the pixelation, and ending with accidental leaks on the official Rolex website and social channels, complete with spy shots of Rolex ambassador and tennis superstar Roger Federer being photographed wearing the unreleased watch. Like Apple, Rolex has a reputation of being secretive, and rarely shares much officially about its future products.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThis helped make the unofficial images and video very exciting for watch lovers and industry observers, adding to the fact it depicted a model different to other Rolex watches currently available, plus it was expected to wear a new name too. The leaks made way for official teasers, helpfully confirming what was unofficially seen before. However, early on the leaks were treated with far more suspicion than we regularly see in the mobile industry, where were so accustomed to leaks happening, its far to easy to fall into the trap of believing everything we see because more often than not, theyre accurate.RelatedRolex Leak or April Fools?Rolexs April 1 launch date for the Land Dweller didnt help instill confidence. For example, industry commenter Adrian Barker made videos titled I call BS, and Rolex Leak or April Fools? reacting to the rumors, and explaining why they are unusual. However, as the quality of the leaks improved, so did peoples trust in them. On Reddit, the most upvoted comment on a post sharing Rolexs final accidental Instagram leak said, Im just going to assume that the leaks about the Land Dweller are true.Whats also interesting is that as someone who has covered mobile technology for more than 15 years is, practically all the leaks seemed to fall into the less common, but most intriguing strategic leak category, meaning it was likely Rolex itself sharing the details through trusted channels, rather than it being discovered in a less official way, or accidentally (but fortuitously) stumbled upon by a lucky fan. These are not unheard of in the mobile and tech industry.It makes sense this way too. The Land Dweller is a brand new Rolex, an ocassion that doesnt happen very often, and both the name and the design are unusual. To me, Rolex was working to soften the blow of, and at the same time gauging the early reaction to, the Land Dweller. It needed its new model to be the star of the Watches and Wonders 2025 show think of it as the CES of luxury watches, held in Geneva, Switzerland which begins April 1, but it didnt want knee-jerk reactions clouding the coverage. Best to get all that out of the way early using leaks.Hands-On With The Rolex Land-DwellerLeaks are part and parcel of every industry, and this is far from the first new luxury watch to leak ahead of its announcement. However, because its Rolex, and because it was pretty comprehensively leaked ahead of April 1, it reached a lot more people than usual. In the same way Apple is many peoples go-to brand name for tech, Rolex is the go-to name for luxury watches. Even people who dont really follow the watch industry may have heard about a new Rolex watch over the last weeks. Only a few brands are capable of generating that level of hype using blurry photos and a few short video clips, and Rolex leveraged its potential perfectly.Now the Land Dweller is official, the comparison to how were introduced to new mobile tech continues. All major watch publications have written about the watch, along with mainstream media including Bloomberg and The Financial Times, but whats happening on YouTube is really fascinating. By far the most watched video at the time of writing about the Land Dweller outside of Rolexs own is a hands on from industry expert Teddy Baldassarre, who has 1.22 million subscribers. He mentions in the video that its an exclusive, and shares some stunning video of the watch and its inner workings, which well come to in a moment. Nico Leonard, a polarizing figure on watch YouTube with 1.86 million subscribers has not posted a video on the Land Dweller for what we assume is an April 1 embargo, highlighting the gravity of Baldassarres scoop.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsRolex has clearly recognized Baldassarres influence and considers him a good fit for its strategy and brand, then rewarded him with great access. Following Apples Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for a relaxed interview with MKBHD, probably the best known tech influencer on YouTube. Apple saw the value in speaking to Marques Brownlee, and with the Land Dweller, Rolex also saw value in strategically presenting an ambitious new model with one of the most respected and knowledgeable industry influencers. In this situation, Baldassarre has suddenly become the MKBHD of luxury watches.Rolex Land Dweller RolexThen theres the Land Dweller itself. Were not going to go into much detail as this isnt our area of expertise, but even as a somewhat casual observer I can see the Land Dwellers sporty integrated bracelet is the brand entering an established trend in watchmaking for the first time. But, just as we see from Apple and its iPhone, Rolex has adopted the trend in its own unique way, setting a new standard, and ignoring the competition all at the same time.Its making a big deal of the 7135 caliber movement inside too, going into detail about how its different and why it matters, and even using a very Apple-like name the Dynapulse for the escapement, and claiming its 30% more efficient than the old way of doing things. This is the way Qualcomm and MediaTek talk about advancements made between processor series, as percentages sound really impressive, even if the performance jump isnt that huge in reality. I realize there are only so many ways to talk about things, but the parallels are too strong to ignore.RolexLove it or hate it, Apples iPhone is an aspirational piece of mobile tech, and a Rolex is arguably the most aspirational luxury watch brand out there. It makes sense the two should present, hype, and market their products in very similar ways. But from beginning to end, Rolexs approach to the Land Dwellers launch was far more familiar to me, professionally, than almost any Ive seen before. Its something mobile tech fans should think about as were slowly introduced to unusual new devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the Apple iPhone 17 Air over the coming weeks and months.The Rolex Land Dweller will undoubtably be harder to buy than either of these phones though, and its recommended retail price starts at $14,900.Editors Recommendations

Arta, a wealth-management startup, is using mobile apps and AI tools to reach young millionaires.