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‘We will not go back to normal in the foreseeable future’. Responding to the oil crisis, EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen urged people to work from home, and travel less.

Working from home has skyrocketed since the Coronavirus pandemic, with approximately 42 percent of Britons either working fully remote, or hybrid.

With the added pressure of increasing fuel costs - energy bills for households in Britain could increase by more than £200 a year - this number is unlikely to decrease in the near future.

The influx of flexible working and working from home is not just convenient for employees – these structures are actually shown to improve work performance .

In fact, a 2025 report from International Workplace Group (IWG) found that flexible working could boost productivity by 12% in the UK, contributing a staggering £24 billion to the economy each year, and digital working technologies are at the heart of this shift.

Unfortunately for these employees, an innovation gap remains. Working patterns have evolved quickly, but technology hasn’t always kept pace. From microphone troubles to discussions missed, it’s easy for those working from home to feel separated from the office conversation.

Technology optimized for remote work means well-connected, happy employees, a true boost to company culture and improved productivity.

The value of a seamless experience

When looking for employee technology, business leaders should choose devices that put an emphasis on connection and productivity. When meetings bring together both remote and in-person employees, no one wants to feel left out of the room where it happens. Thankfully, the technology is out there – however for many operations its potential just remains untapped.

Ultra-wide monitors , for example, provide panoramic digital canvases that recreate a more natural and inclusive meeting experience. Combined with integrated video conferencing , they help ensure every participant shares the same seamless view of discussions, documents, and data.

Other solutions that promote connectivity between long-distance employees include all-in-one collaboration displays with integrated cameras, microphones and speakers to provide a streamlined meeting experience. Designed with remote employees – or clients - in mind, these displays ensure inclusive and engaging communication with those at home.

AI-powered room control systems add another level of intelligence to modern meeting space. Today’s smart meeting rooms can automatically adjust camera angles, lighting, and microphone pickup zones depending on who’s speaking and where attention is focused. Features like voice enhancement and real-time captioning help make meetings more accessible for everyone.

The recently implemented European Accessibility Act has shone a spotlight on the struggles faced by disabled workers, pushing organizations to ensure accessibility for all. Technologies which can filter out background noise allow those with hearing difficulties to follow along without asking for constant repetition.

With 35% of those of working adults in the UK experiencing some form of hearing difficulties at work, these innovations are invaluable for a modern organisation.

There are many frustrations that typically come with hybrid meetings: participants out of shot, cropped presentations and conversations cut off due to poor audio, but these boardroom technologies help address this. With the right calibration and positioning, physical and digital workspaces are brought closer together than ever before.

The importance of home tech

Keeping employees happy doesn’t just stop at well-designed in-office displays - at home, the same principle applies. Smart monitors , for instance, are setting a new standard for versatility. These hybrid devices offer a new level of flexibility by combining the features of a traditional monitor and smart TV, with built-in productivity apps for work.

The latest innovations are designed for hybrid working, allowing employees transition seamlessly between work, entertainment, and even home management. A great smart monitor helps workers to manage their entire routine from singular device, from answering emails , to streaming shows, to turning up the heating. All systems can be managed at once, mirroring the seamless workflows that come with a hybrid work style.

When choosing technology for home environments, it’s not surprising that design and space efficiency is often top of the priority list. A single, stylish device that fits well into any living room or home-office space is valuable for any hybrid or remote employee. Space-efficient gadgets can enhance user experience and reduce complexity, through features like cable management, slim displays, and compatibility with multiple devices and connections.

The less bulky a monitor is, and the fewer cables it’s trailing, the more ergonomic the workspace - that’s when work gets done. As simple as it sounds, offering employees technologies hardware that complements the user’s space goes a long way to improving satisfaction and productivity.

Portability

Whether employees are fully remote, hybrid, or office-based, portable technology has become essential. Home workers may split their time between kitchen tables, coffee shops and coworking spaces, while hybrid employees often commute long distances into the office a few days each week.

In 2026, work no longer happens in one fixed location - it happens everywhere, from train carriages to kitchen counters while making lunch between meetings.

This underscores the need for ultra-lightweight, durable laptops that can be transported from workspace to workspace, while still delivering strong visibility and performance no matter the setting.

Today’s leading business laptops are designed with this flexibility in mind. Large, high-resolution devices make multitasking, spreadsheets and data-heavy work easier on the go.

High resolution screens improve visibility during long work sessions, ideal for workers replacing multi-monitor setups with one large portable screen. Anti-glare screen technology allows for working outdoors, and can reduce eye fatigue whilst improving readability.

For business leaders trying to choose the best laptops for their team, don’t just consider how work gets done... consider where work gets done.

Flexible working is here to stay

Hybrid working is the foundation of modern corporate life. Teams are built across cities, countries and even continents, and work is woven together with family and personal lives. The modern office is rarely a single location; it’s a space that changes and moves with workers throughout the day.

This is why simple, adaptable systems which put the worker first are pulling ahead to become the top of workplace tech in 2026.

The best business devices are those which bridge the physical gap between employees, driving collaboration, creativity and connection, helping people do the best work wherever they are.

Don't forget to save your data with the best backup software .

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives , our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

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Health professionals across Europe are calling for an EU climate and health strategy, write Mark Wilson and Dr Paul De Raeve ; plus a letter from Nadine Henderson

You report on hospitals declaring critical incidents as their systems fail in the heat ( Hospitals in England declare critical incidents as machines and IT fail in heat, 25 June ). This is a crisis that health professionals saw coming.

It is not England’s alone. During June’s record-breaking European heatwave, France raised its health system to the highest level of emergency mobilisation, while hospitals across Italy, Spain and Germany reported surging admissions and cooling systems that could not cope. Everywhere, the people caring for patients are working sleep-deprived in sweltering, un-air-conditioned wards, with consequences for both staff wellbeing and the safety of care. Across Europe, we are hearing from health professionals that conditions are becoming dangerous and systems remain unprepared.

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Snapseed version 4.0.8 includes options to add grid lines and a level to the app’s camera viewfinder.

Both new features are customizable, with multiple grid and level types to choose from.

Snapseed v4.0.8 is rolling out via the Play Store now.

Snapseed got a huge overhaul in version 4.0 , finally bringing the Android version up to speed with the iOS experience . Released in May, the latest redesign of Snapseed is both a photo editor and a camera app , complete with optional manual controls for things like focus and exposure. A new update for the app is rolling out now, and it brings with it more options mobile photography enthusiasts will appreciate.

As spotted by 9to5Google , the latest version of Snapseed includes options to add grid lines and a level to the app’s camera UI. Both are valuable tools for helping compose a shot, and are staples in other camera apps — including the stock camera app on Pixel phones.

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New Glenn Catastrophe Aftermath: What's Next for the Space Industry? | Ars Live

This week Ars hosted a live discussion with two space industry experts about the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion of the New Glenn rocket in late May.

Along with Ars Technica Space Editor Eric Berger; the director of research at Quilty Space , Caleb Henry; and the host of the Main Engine Cut Off podcast , Anthony Colangelo, spoke about various topics. Chief among them was the implications of this failure for NASA's attempt to land humans on the Moon for the Artemis IV mission. Blue Origin and SpaceX are both building landers to support this goal and the rockets to deliver them to the Moon.

During the conversation, Berger reported that the current Blue Origin "architecture" for a human mission would require four launches of new variant of the New Glenn rocket, known as 9x4, because it has nine first stage engines, and four upper stage engines. This is a more powerful version than the "7x2" variant that exploded a little more than a month ago. Blue Origin has not set a target date for the 9x4 rocket's debut, but some sources have indicated the company is targeting late 2027 or early 2028.

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Today in Books readers, I have an important update : this is the last week of this newsletter. Luckily, you can still follow all the book news by signing up for the Book Riot Newsletter , which goes out on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It’s the same book news curation, covered by the same Book Riot writers, but in an expanded newsletter with more content. See you there!

Which Book Will be an American Classic in 250 Years?

On the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, USA Today asked authors which books they think will be considered American classics in another 250 years. Some picked new releases that they think will stand the test of time—Casey McQuiston endorsed Palaver by Bryan Washington for its “soulful and sincere” writing and “restrained and attentive prose.” Others chose classics they think will still be relevant in 250 years, like Matt Dinniman’s pick, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh.

I’m Canadian, so I can’t pretend I’m invested in the future of the Great American Novel, but Beloved by Toni Morrison feels like the obvious answer here. As for a new release I think will still be around in 250 years, I’m going to place my bet on Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. Historical fiction tends to age more gracefully, and it’s such a perfect snapshot of American history, including all the ugliness. I can imagine it still being taught in schools in 250 years.

The Most Popular Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the Past 3 Years

Goodreads has put together a list of the most popular SFF books of the past three years—that is, books that neatly fall into either sci-fi or fantasy (not romantasy) and were published between June 2023 and June 2026. They also need to have an average star rating of over 3.5.

My reading taste is strange and particular, so I’m not surprised that I’ve only read about five of their 104 picks. I was pleasantly surprised by how many queer books I spotted here, though. Queer SFF has taken off in recent years and has really broken through to the mainstream, including with books like Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab and Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes) by Travis Baldree. Another one of my favorites that I was pleasantly surprised to see here is The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar, a queer fae murder ballad novella. (If that doesn’t hook you, I don’t know what will.)

Unsurprisingly, the sci-fi list is crowded with Matt Dinniman and Martha Wells titles, but alongside them are experimental and literary takes on sci-fi, like Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell, and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.

Bid in the Romancing the Vote Auction to Defend Democracy

This is the third Romancing the Vote auction , created by romance authors Courtney Milan and Kit Rocha to raise money for organizations fighting for every vote to count. This year, money raised will go to Vote Riders and The Southern Coalition for Social Justice. There are all kinds of items to bid on, from annotated books by your favorite authors to stunning crafts to writing consultations with experts. Bidding is open from July 1st to July 5th.

The Queer Books I Read in June

Every month, I do a recap of my reading for All Access members, which can be a little more revealing than I’d like. There’s no hiding my current hyperfixation while going over my reading list. Here are the seven queer books I read in June , plus some of the options on my July TBR.

What are you reading? Let us know in the comments !