Technology

A few weeks ago, Reuters reported that India's Tata Electronics, one of Apple's largest iPhone production facilities, suffered a serious data breach compromising 200,000 files and 630 gigabytes of data. Apple wasn't the only target — Tesla data was snapped up, too — but the apparent fruits of that illicit labor resulted in one very large iPhone 18 Pro leak.

We have no confirmation that the videos of a silver iPhone 18 Pro undergoing drop tests are real, but the detail in the online post that the videos come from a Tata leak lends credence to their veracity.

Some called it the biggest leak since Gizmodo and the iPhone 4. As others have noted — and I agree — it's really not on that level. After all, the iPhone 4 that someone found in a California bar was a fully functioning model. For all we know, the alleged iPhone 18 Pro shown in the video is just a dummy model or a chassis with no internal components.

It's what comes next, though, that has me concerned and I'm sure worries Apple too.

A trickle could become a flow

As of this moment, the data from the breach, which Tata Electronics confirmed, is on the Dark Web. This is a part of the internet hidden from the public web; it's not searchable by Google or even your favorite AI chatbot. Only people who know how to traverse the dank space, usually using a Tor browser, can search the treasure trove of information from Tesla and Apple.

According to Reuters, a group called World Leaks had started posting data from the breach on the Dark Web and it included "several purported Apple files and folders, some titled 'com.apple.factorydata', and documents referring to 'material specification'."

What appears to be happening is that hackers (and maybe others on the Dark Web who know where to find these files and how to dig into them) are just starting to unearth critical data from Apple (and Tesla). It stands to reason, then, that the videos we've seen are not the end of the leaks but just the beginning.

Why not Ultra?

With the launch of the iPhone 18 lineup likely just a few months away (most expect it to happen in the first half of September), Apple is well past the point of design and specification. It's working with manufacturing partners like Tata Electronics to assemble the phones (and maybe test them) and prepare them for shipping. Once Apple unveils all its new handsets, including perhaps the new iPhone Ultra foldable, it will be just a few weeks before they start shipping to customers. Apple must build millions of handsets now in order to prepare for typical demand.

As for what we might see next, that's anyone's guess. Obviously, this leak put Apple on high alert. It may be playing the whack-a-mole game of stamping out the spread of this leak, and is surely it's working with Tata to ensure another breach doesn't happen. But there's not much Apple can do to police the Dark Web. It can't break down the door of the Internet and demand those files back.

Hackers and other interested parties will dig through those folders and files, looking for other tidbits to post — I'm sure they've already been scouring them for any indication of a folding device. Tata, though, may not have been tasked with building that completely new and all-important device. This is just conjecture, but for that flexible handset, Apple could've turned to its oldest and most trusted iPhone manufacturing partner in China, Foxconn.

I know, why do that when the US is pushing for manufacturing outside China (and in the US, if it can get it)? My thinking is that the Ultra folding iPhone will be more expensive and probably not as appealing as a mass-market phone and will therefore sell in far lower quantities. In that case, Apple leaves that with Foxconn and still hands at least a third of the iPhone 18 assembly duties to Tata.

If that's the case, then future leaks will revolve around everything but the new foldable... if Apple is lucky.

Mark my words, though, I really don't think this is the last major leak we'll see in the run-up to Apple's big iPhone 18 launch.

Dreambeans is unlike any other social media or AI app I've tested in a good way.

• Researchers found "VPN Go" extensions for Chrome and Firefox secretly harvesting copied text
• The clipboard theft was not there at launch and arrived through a later update
• Anything copied while the extension was active should now be treated as exposed

Security researchers at Socket found two browser extensions distributed under the "VPN Go: Free VPN" branding, one listed on the Chrome Web Store and one on Firefox Add-ons, to secretly harvest copied text.

Both present themselves as free VPN tools with working proxy features. Underneath, Socket says, both also run a clipboard stealer that continuously watches copied text and sends it to infrastructure controlled by the attacker.

According to Socket, the clipboard theft was not present when the extensions first appeared. It was added later, through an ordinary-looking update, after the extensions had already built up a base of trusting users. That staged approach is exactly what makes this kind of threat so hard to spot, and why even a fairly cautious user can end up exposed.

For anyone weighing up a no-cost privacy tool, it is worth knowing that not every free option behaves like this, and the best VPN services are tested precisely so you do not have to take this kind of gamble. But this case shows how thin the line can be between a useful free extension and a data-harvesting one.

What Socket's research uncovered

(Image credit: Chrome)

Socket says the earliest analyzed builds behaved like ordinary proxy extensions, with no confirmed clipboard theft.

On Chrome, that changed with version 1.1, when the extension added a script that reads the clipboard and ships those chunks off to a hardcoded address. The Firefox version followed the same path slightly later, moving the same theft loop into its background script.

Once active, the monitoring is relentless. The Chrome content script checks the clipboard roughly every half a second, according to Socket's analysis, while the Firefox build polls every 1.5 seconds.

Each newly copied value is tagged with a session identifier so it can be reassembled on the other end, then sent out over plain HTTP. All of this was happening while the two apps' privacy policies stated that the tools did not collect, store, or share user data and did not keep activity logs.

TechRadar has reached out to VPN Go for comment, but both email addresses bounced, and both extensions have since been pulled from their stores.

Why clipboard stealers are dangerous for users

The reason clipboard theft is so effective is that it abuses something completely routine. People copy and paste sensitive information all day, and it's not careless to do so. Password managers rely on exactly that: copying long, unique passwords into your accounts.

An extension that can silently read the clipboard has access to all of this information; it just has to wait for you to copy the right thing. If you have used either of the two extensions in question, you should treat any information you've copied during that time as exposed.

Researchers have repeatedly found free VPN extensions doing things their users never agreed to. Recent reporting has covered a free Chrome VPN extension caught taking screenshots of every page its users visited, and a malicious free VPN extension that resurfaced after being removed, returning in a more evasive form.

The pattern is consistent enough that it is worth treating any unknown free VPN extension with caution by default. That caution matters: TechRadar's own polling found that nearly 1 in 4 readers use free VPNs despite knowing the risks.

How to stay safe

If you want the protection a VPN offers without rolling the dice, stick to providers with a track record and independent testing behind them.

A reputable paid service, or one of the carefully vetted best free VPN options, is a far safer bet than an unknown extension promising unlimited access for nothing. As the saying goes, when the product is free, there is a decent chance that you are the product.

• Backrooms is getting an extended cut, which will be in theaters from July 4
• The movie will be titled Backrooms: Everything Must Go and features 16 minutes of new footage
• Backrooms is the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far

Backrooms was a monumental success for A24, becoming the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far. Those of you hungry for even more lore won't be disappointed, as an extended cut is coming to theaters.

From July 4, Backrooms: Everything Must Go will be playing in theaters globally, where it will feature 16 minutes of brand-new footage. According to Deadline, the new version will have "more lore, and more Easter eggs for fans."

If you're a fan of the Backrooms lore like me, the promise of even more footage is likely an intriguing one. One of the reasons I keep coming back to the Backrooms is just how deep the online lore goes; I truly could spend hours wandering the place given half the chance. No matter how dangerous it might be.

The hype around Backrooms isn't dying down

Are you ready to go deeper? Experience BACKROOMS - EVERYTHING MUST GO in theaters nationwide this Friday, featuring 16 minutes of brand new footage from director Kane Parsons. Tickets on sale now. https://t.co/zxO6nlTEfY pic.twitter.com/MNYEe2EU8cJune 30, 2026

It's a great time to be a horror fan right now. Backrooms has caused quite the stir on social media, marking the first time the Creepypasta has been adapted for the big screen.

In an interview with our senior entertainment reporter Tom Power, Backrooms director Kane Parsons spoke about the rise in YouTubers making horror movies from Markiplier's Iron Lung to Curry Barker's Obsession, which is now available on demand.

Parsons said: "A common trait shared by a lot of these YouTube filmmakers is having an established contract with their audience, and treating fans like they're a little more intelligent and cognizant than the average entertainment fan. So, I can't speak to why studios are finally taking notice of us, but I'm glad they are."

With Backrooms re-entering theaters for an extended cut, I am certainly glad that horror is being taken seriously across the board. I can't wait to see what Backrooms: Everything Must Go has in store for us.

• Bipartisan bill wants big tech companies to pay for the additional energy consumption and capacity fueled by data centers and AI demand
• Congress will begin consideration of the bill, before it moves on
• Electricity prices have risen dramatically in the US, primarily because of an explosion in new data center construction projects

A bipartisan bill is currently moving through Congress that seeks to force the big tech companies behind the massive buildout of AI datacenters to pay for the energy they use.

Currently the cost of energy is calculated by a combination of factors such as how much it costs to generate and transport the power, with extra charges added for plant and infrastructure maintenance, local regulations, and additional capacity and demand charges.

That means those living in areas with data centers connected to the local grid will have to bear the cost of the sudden increase in demand and capacity, even if they are not using more energy themselves. The Ratepayer Protection Act looks to shift that burden onto the tech companies.

Ratepayer Protection Act

The name may sound familiar, and that's because the bill essentially looks to codify parts of Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge — the commitment that companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed back in March this year. This pledge was only voluntary though, and lacked any real detail on exactly what signatories would be paying for.

The House of Representatives will now begin consideration of the bill, which seeks the introduction of a “large load standard” requiring tech companies to bear the cost of the energy they use, alongside upgrades to the local grids they connect to. The bipartisan bill’s primary sponsors are Reps. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla.

“Families and small businesses across the country shouldn’t be left to foot the bill for this new development, though the benefits of these innovations will be felt by all of society,” said House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. “The Ratepayer Protection Act is a bipartisan effort, which would ensure that the costs of grid upgrades are appropriately paid for according to demand.”

If you weren’t already aware, there has been a nationwide wave of opposition to data centers, with both local grassroots movements and nationwide opposition groups successfully delaying and cancelling data center construction projects. There have been a range of motivations behind opposition, from ecological conservation and energy prices, to the fear of AI-influenced job losses and a modern resurgence of the Luddite movement.

The Ratepayer Protection Act is therefore a response to the growing resentment experienced across the US political spectrum, and represents one of the first Congressional attempts to force big tech to pay their way for the enormous increase in energy demand the US has experienced in the past few years — primarily driven by AI demand.

Speaking on behalf of his constituents, bill sponsor Evans said, “Colorado families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to cover the costs of new power generation driven by these developments.”

After passing through Congress, the bill will have to be considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, the House, and the Senate before being ratified by President Trump. Whether the bill will still have teeth in that time remains to be seen. But the bill comes at a pivotal time in the US election cycle, with midterm elections just months away and data centers being a serious consideration for any sitting representative or hopeful candidate.

• Norton's scam detection tools are now available in Claude and ChatGPT
• Users can ask their preferred AI chatbot about the legitimacy of an email, text, website
• Most threats consumers face now come from scams, phishing and fake ads

Claude is the latest AI assistant to get access to Norton's Genie scam detection tool following its available for ChatGPT customers earlier this year.

Available across all Claude subscription tiers, Genie gives users access to scam detection capabilities and other cyber safety tips and advice.

Norton says its tool can analyze suspicious emails, texts, messages, images and links using its "multi-layered" detection intelligence.

Norton scam detection now available in Claude, ChatGPT

"AI assistants are becoming part of how people make decisions and evaluate information online," Head of Products and Portfolios Travis Witteveen noted, hinting that the increased prevalence of AI assistants.

"By bringing Norton Genie into even more AI platforms like Claude and ChatGPT, we’re making trusted Cyber Safety intelligence available directly in those moments to help people make more confident decisions in real time."

The company explained that Genie looks for language patterns, social engineering tactics, urgency cues, impersonation attempts, and requests for sensitive information. It also checks URLs and analyzes domains to confirm whether a user should click on the link.

When the tool launched for ChatGPT in March 2026, Norton described it as the "world's first AI-powered scam detector." Users can start conversations by tagging @Norton and asking questions like whether an email looks legit or if an online offer looks like a scam.

The company's own reporting reveals that nine in 10 threats targeting people in 2025 came from scams, phishing and fake advertisements.

So far, Norton looks to be the only security company offering direct AI chatbot integration to provide accurate insights into threat detection.

Silo season 3 is returning to Apple TV after a year-long break, which is a comparatively short wait for fans of Apple Originals.

The hit dystopian sci-fi series is widely acclaimed as one of the best Apple TV shows, and season 3 sees Juliette Nichols navigating her new role as mayor of Silo 18 while trying to regain her memory after the events of season 2.

There's plenty left to explore when it comes to Silo, and it has been renewed for a fourth season too. For now, here's what you need to know about Silo season 3's arrival on Apple TV.

What time can I watch Silo season 3 on Apple TV?

If you're in the US you can expect the first episode of Silo season 3 to be available on Apple TV on July 3 at 12am PT / 3am ET. Episodes will then drop weekly until the finale on September 4

Internationally, look out for the below times:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Silo season 3 come out on Apple TV?

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Episode 1: July 3

Episode 2: July 10

Episode 3: July 17

Episode 4: July 24

Episode 5: July 31

Episode 6: August 7

Episode 7: August 14

Episode 8: August 21

Episode 9: August 28

Episode 10: September 4

• Dacia responds to Leapmotor's price cuts
• Spring retains title of the UK's most affordable car
• Small EV now costs just £11,990 in cheapest version

Dacia has slashed the cost of its entry-level Spring EV in the UK to £11,990 in a direct response to fierce competition from Chinese rival Leapmotor.

The company, which shares a “strategic global alliance with the Stellantis Group, cut the cost of its T03 electric city car yesterday, dropping the diminutive EV down to just £12,995 via a doubling of what it calls its Leap Grant.

In recent years, the Dacia Spring has enjoyed the title of the most affordable electric passenger vehicle on sale in the UK (and much of Europe), also taking the crown as Britain’s cheapest car overall, but that title was handed over yesterday following Leapmotor’s aggressive price cuts.

However, it is worth noting that Dacia has reduced the price of its entry level Spring Expression model, which offers just 70bhp and a range of 140-miles on a single charge — both of these figures are easily bettered by the T03.

A recently upgraded Spring 100 is more closely matched in terms of specification and this is now priced at £12,990, a mere £5 less than the Chinese rival.

This version offers a more powerful 100hp motor, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, vehicle-to-load functionality, copper-accented styling, electric rear windows, reversing camera, and more.

Lina Ribeiro, Dacia Brand Director for the UK, said that “production efficiencies” and a “strong drive to continue to offer real value to our customers” have helped the Romanian company pass on savings to the end user.

Analysis: could this spark a small car price war?

(Image credit: Dacia)

There are very few new cars currently on sale in the UK that can compete with an £11,990 price tag, let alone those that use a typically more expensive electric powertrain. But the battle to become the UK’s cheapest car could see other brands start slashing their prices.

The BYD Dolphin Surf, for example, currently sits at £18,650, while Honda’s upcoming Super N offers a lot of fun and bags of character for £19,000. The MG3 is also a steal at £17,495, although the brand has been known to heavily discount this price.

Should the Renault Twingo qualify for the full UK electric car grant, this could be sold for below £17,000 and offer 163-miles of range, as well as Renault’s excellent interior attention to detail.

Plus, with Chinese brands gaining more traction in the UK and European markets, we could see a whole host of previously ‘unknown’ models start popping up at dealerships, all with a view to undercut the competition.

If you’re in the market for a cheap electric city car, now could be the time to start shopping around.

With Motorola serving as the World Cup's official smartphone partner, I couldn't resist snapping some photos on its latest foldables.

The latest installment in Nintendo’s weird and wacky rhythm game franchise has finally landed with Rhythm Heaven Groove (known as Rhythm Paradise Groove in PAL regions). It’s a game that sticks closely to its foundations: there’s a simplistic control scheme, cartoonish art style, and a set of frankly surreal levels to sift through.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch (also playable on Nintendo Switch 2)
Release date: July 2, 2026

That’s not to say that Rhythm Heaven Groove brings nothing new to the table, however. There are plenty of multiplayer minigames available, and there’s a new single player mode called Beatspell, which riffs on the RPG genre.

So, is the mix of classic Rhythm Heaven charm and new content enough to place this entry among the best Nintendo Switch games? Here are my thoughts after hours upon hours of testing my skills.

More of the same — but not in a bad way

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Let me begin by laying my cards on the table. I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series, and have poured a ton of hours into perfecting my timing on Rhythm Heaven (DS) and my personal favorite Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii.

I’m a sucker for the zany characters and goofy set of circumstances they find themselves in — whether that be dancing in tandem with a group of shrimp or playing badminton with a dog while piloting an airplane (yes, really).

And I’d argue that Nintendo — alongside codeveloper TNX — has re-created what made the series special effectively in Rhythm Heaven Groove. It’s a lot more of the same stuff we got before, but that’s by no means a bad thing.

A lot of the absurdism has been retained, and whether I was playing as a frog and launching my amphibian brethren off a lily pad or bouncing lemons off by biceps as a hard-core gym bro, I felt that the unorthodox appeal of what came before was still alive and breathing on Nintendo Switch.

Levels are, on the whole, pretty memorable, and while I found some to be less compelling — like using a massive hammer to crush cans, or sweeping the floor as part of a four-piece pop band — there’s plenty of personality, vibrant colors, and eccentric character designs to marvel at.

In the core solo levels, there’s a decent amount of variety too, even with the music, which spans a variety of genres, tempos, and styles. I found myself bopping my head to the tunes in Alien Alphabet — a level where you have to communicate with a chatty extra-terrestrial — as well as Hop N Slide — where you play as a computerised creature that has to jump and duck through hurdles — among many others.

If you want, you can even listen to the tracks in the Sound Studio menu, which fills out as you play through the game’s varying levels.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I loved a lot of the core levels, but my favorite was Ribbit Rocket. I loved blasting other frogs into the stratosphere with my lily pad-launching skills. The vibrant environment, giant frog in the backdrop, and varied tempo of incoming amphibians kept things feeling fresh both visually and rhythmically.

But let’s talk a bit about gameplay, something that there’s understandably little to discuss around. Like its predecessors, Rhythm Heaven Groove keeps things outrageously simple.

Whatever mode you’re playing, you just have to press buttons — sometimes even just one — in time with the beat. Controls are responsive and there are visual and audio cues that help you to nail your timing. You’ll either get your rhythm spot on, a little off, or straight up wrong, and this will determine how well you do in a particular level or minigame.

In the main single player levels, you can earn medals by hitting almost every note faultlessly, and this really brought the perfectionist out of me. I felt almost compelled to get a medal in every level, including the remixes, which combine multiple levels together in one brilliant collage.

You occasionally get the option to go for Perfect in some stages, which can earn you an in-game reward. This can be infuriating — but in a way that’s addictive and oh-so satisfying when you pull off a flawless run.

One minor gripe I have is that there’s no option to restart within a level when going for Perfect. For some reason, you have to jump back to the main menu, re-enter and try again. It’s a minor frustration, sure, but when you’re trying to get in the zone it can feel a tad grating.

Speaking of menus, I was slightly surprised to find that they were quite bland. The main menu is just a list, there’s little visual flair or intrigue about it. Again, this is a nit-pick, but for such a vivid and charismatic title, I expected something a little less rudimentary.

The new stuff: the good, the bad, and everything in between

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Right, so despite a couple of small things, the core single player experience is very enjoyable in Rhythm Heaven Groove. But what new stuff can you sink your teeth into.

Well, perhaps the highest profile addition is the aforementioned Beatspell mode, which takes visual and gameplay inspiration from classic RPGs. By entering varying commands at different rhythms, you’re able to cast a handful of spells, including fire and water attacks, healing, and more. You must use your magic to defeat basic monsters as well as bosses, which have varying weaknesses and attack patterns.

You can level up your spells as you progress through each level, although these are reset at the beginning of each new area. It’s a neat idea, and I personally preferred to pour my points into attacking spells to defeat enemies faster — which helps you earn bonus points for a better star rating at the end of each segment. While beating your enemies is pretty easy, getting a high star rating requires consistently good timing, especially later into the campaign.

However, I wouldn’t say that Beatspell is the strongest mode ever. The levels feel pretty repetitive, and the narrative throughout the campaign failed to capture my interest. It’s very basic, and it doesn’t quite have the same quirky feel that the core levels exude.

Sure, there’s a bit more variation in terms of gameplay — you’re not restricted to one or two basic inputs and can approach levels how you see fit, but the music and enemies I encountered felt less charismatic than what the series typically delivers, making me less enthused about returning to levels and perfecting my score.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Still, some of the new additions show promise, and when my talented colleague and TechRadar Gaming Editor, Dash Wood, played the multiplayer minigames, he had an absolute blast. We loved everything here, from the catchy tunes through to the charming visuals and competitive feel, and I’m definitely going to be forcing a few friends and family members to duke it out with me.

There are more modes too, including Drum Lesson, the experimental Rhythm Toy Mode, and the Café, where you can take a break and receive tips. All in all, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the beat-based fun in Rhythm Heaven Groove, and although I didn’t love Beatspell, the core experience alone had enough content to keep me entertained.

I liked most of the new additions overall, then, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator, named Lil’ Miss Reeds. This robotic character uses text-to-speech to read menus aloud, which is a neat touch in terms of accessibility, although the voice, in my view, is pretty annoying.

Luckily, you can turn text-to-speech off in a sub-menu, which I quickly did — but again, in spite of my dislike for the robo voice, it’s a thoughtful touch. Especially given that there’s an option to describe what’s on screen as well as reading text aloud.

One final point before I wrap up, which has been a fairly big topic of discussion for this title. Although the Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for more than a year now, Nintendo decided to release this entry as an exclusive on the original Switch. In my view, this is a very sensible decision: not only is the Nintendo Switch the best-selling console in history, opening one of the more niche Nintendo franchises up to a larger player base, but the game itself is hardly the most technically demanding.

And I found performance to be consistent throughout — there were no framerate hiccups, visuals looked vibrant and relatively sharp, and controls felt responsive too, whether I was playing on my TV or using wired earbuds in handheld mode (though the latter option will be best for perfectionists due to lower latency).

So, what do I make of Rhythm Heaven Groove overall? For me, it's a continuation of everything that made its predecessors tick. With a whimsical visual style, head-bopping tunes, and zany level design, there’s plenty of the oddball rhythmic fun that we’ve come to expect from this series.

Sure, Beatspell wasn’t my favorite, and the simplistic gameplay won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you want a beat-hitting game that’s entertaining to dip into solo or with friends, this is an easy title to recommend.

Should you play Rhythm Heaven Groove?

(Image credit: Nintendo)Play it if…

You’re a certified rhythm game aficionado
Although Rhythm Heaven Groove is by no means the most challenging rhythm game out there, it takes quite a bit of dedication to perfect each level — and it’s incredibly satisfying when you pull this off. If you’re a fan of the genre, then I strongly suggest trying this one out, you’re sure to have a blast.

You’re a fan of the unorthodox
You could argue that the main draw of Rhythm Heaven Groove isn’t its gameplay or beat-matching, but instead, its bizarre lineup of characters and levels. If you want to blast through some surreal situations with robots, aliens, frogs, cats, and more, then you’ll have a weirdly wonderful time with this Nintendo Switch title.

Don’t play it if…

You want something with a lot of gameplay depth
The gameplay in Rhythm Heaven Groove certainly sits on the basic side, and in some levels you’ll simply have to tap a single button in time to progress. If you want something with a bit more depth, then this may not be for you.

You’re expecting an enthralling single player campaign
The new Beatspell mode acts as the new campaign mode, with a range of levels and an overarching narrative. While it adds a bit of variation into the mix, the mode lacks the charm and addictiveness of the core levels, and the story isn’t very engaging. I think the main solo rhythm games offer enough single player fun in themselves, but if you want something with more depth, then this may not be for you.

Accessibility features

There aren’t all too many ways to customize your experience in Rhythm Heaven Groove, although you can switch between a few Read-Aloud settings.

There’s the option to have the narrator Read words, read and describe what’s on the screen, or deactivate the narrator altogether.

(Image credit: Nintendo)How I reviewed Rhythm Heaven Groove

I spent around 10 hours playing through Rhythm Heaven Groove. During this time, I played through the main solo levels, the Beatspell campaign, and tried out the other side modes.

The majority of the time, I played the game in TV mode, with my Nintendo Switch 2 connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did also dip into handheld mode a fair few times, and connected up the Sennheiser CX 80U wired earbuds to enjoy the in-game music and sounds.

More generally, I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series and have reviewed many video games during my time here at TechRadar. This has included plenty of Nintendo exclusive games, like Kirby Air Riders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Drag x Drive.

We've tried dozens of meal kit and prepared meal delivery services to find the most affordable options that deliver not only on value, but taste, too.

Fable is shaping up to be an absolute belter of a role-playing game. From deep systems like reputation affecting everything you do and stylish combat to funny talking pigs, what I’ve seen so far suggests a splendid fantasy role-playing game (RPG) that will be absolutely worth the wait.

Seeing a sliver of the game set in only one town, Playground Games showed what it’s like to carve my own path in the world, what impacts I can have on the locale and the people there, and how it can all affect me as the player.

From what I’ve seen, it’s basically a life sim, town builder, economy sim, RPG — and pig-fate-decider sim — all in one.

Systems on systems on systems

(Image credit: Playground Games/Microsoft)

The main thrust of what I saw at the Xbox event around Summer Game Fest 2026 was how deep and rich some of the games’ systems were in how you interact with places and folk, and how your actions have consequences.

This allows you to play your own way, impacting the way people live and also carving your own lifestyle that doesn’t rely on a binary good-bad system, making things more interesting.

In the gameplay I saw behind closed doors, there was a talking pig whose fate we could decide, for example. But this wasn’t a one-and-done affair, as whatever you chose has consequences: save him, and the butcher is out of pocket, so you’ll need to cover his costs if you can — or get a job to earn the coin, and so on. And each of these steps, whichever route you take, will impact how you're perceived by everyone involved: some will think you're virtuous, some will be annoyed, and so on.

This leads to you garnering an array of reputation qualities for both the overall area and its inhabitants. And it can get very detailed and complex — in a good way — given every single fully-fledged non-player character (NPC) will have their own perspective. So while you may follow a path that gets you in with some local businesses that then give you better rates, for example, other shop owners may have totally differing opinions and make your life difficult later on.

Given how deep and rich the systems and reputation mechanics are, it feels like that same depth is needed in other areas like combat

Thankfully, the reputation is entirely local, though, so if you go berserk in one town, they won’t immediately be on the phone to the next area over. But even if they did, you can still turn things around and change people’s perceptions, but it will take a lot of work to win them back…

But, perhaps weirdly, this excellent chain of reactions, reputation characteristics, and events can abruptly stop. For example, in the midst of wooing a potential partner and going through the systems you require, including becoming a homeowner, you can just press a button to own a house. Or if you need money to buy gifts in the same relationship system and process, you can simply walk into any blacksmith and earn money at the press of a button.

This juxtaposition was the only thing that really raised my eyebrows, as it felt jarring: one moment you’re deep in a hilarious system rabbithole, the next you’re holding one button to solve or part-solve a problem. I’m very keen to see more of that and the impact it may or may not have on the experience on a larger, less isolated scale.

But could the sword be mightier than the pen?

(Image credit: Microsoft / PlayGround Games)

Speaking of seeing more on a larger scale, the same goes for combat; what I’ve seen whetted the appetite, but I only saw a flash.

It was wonderfully slick, swift, fantastical, and elegant — and exciting — for sure, but over far too quickly. I’d love to see more of the options available to players in terms of builds, classes, and skills, and how to team them with weapon choices and magic, and more. It was all over far too quickly in my preview.

Plus, given how deep and rich the systems and reputation mechanics are, it feels like that same depth is needed in other areas like combat, in order to ensure a cohesive experience and feel.

Still, however, the fact remains that Fable was absolutely one of the very best things I saw at all the games events going on in June, and it’s set to be an absolute blast to experience all its systems — even if I only got a glimpse of them.

I can’t wait to dive in and explore all the shenanigans you can get yourself into when the game launches on February 23, 2027, on Xbox Series X and Series S, PS5, and PC.

These titles, plus the return of Ransom Canyon and a new Heartstopper movie, are out this month.

After having precious little new camera gear to review in the opening months of the year, 2026 has well and truly kicked into gear for us tech journalists.

The first quarter saw a smattering of niche compact cameras, including the Leica Q3 Monochrom, Instax Mini Evo Cinema and Ricoh GR IV. That's right: a black-and-white-only full-frame compact and a 3-in-1 instant camera that shoots video were the highlights.

That peculiar first quarter was followed by some more conventional photographer treats, such as the Sony A7R VI and Panasonic Lumix L10. I described the full-frame A7R VI as 'the perfect camera', and said the L10 was 'the prettiest Lumix in years', and a worthy alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI.

DJI launched a couple of standout five-star drones, the Avata 360 and Lito X1, while navigating both its US ban and some new competition, with Insta360 stealing the Pocket 4P's thunder by launching its fantastic dual-lens Luna Ultra.

Meanwhile, it has been an unusually quiet year for some of the big names thus far. Nikon, for example, is yet to announce a new camera in 2026, nor have we seen a new Fujifilm X.

I expect a steady stream of new releases throughout the latter half of the year, with heavily rumored models including the crop-sensor Fujifilm X-T6 and the Canon EOS R7 II. But here I'm going to look back at my five favorite cameras I've personally tested so far in 2026, in no particular order, with honorable mentions for a few others that have had the full TechRadar review treatment.

5. Panasonic Lumix L10

• Release date: May 12
• Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Panasonic surprised us all during its Lumix 25th anniversary event by dropping the all-new Lumix L10 — and it was a real treat to review.

It's the spiritual successor to the Lumix LX100 series of premium compact cameras, inheriting a gorgeous 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 lens that's been refined to work with Panasonic's latest 26.5MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and the latest Real Time LUTs profiles.

That sensor isn't all that the Lumix L10 has in common with powerful cameras such as the Lumix G9 II — it also features Panasonic's reliable phase-detection autofocus with advanced subject detection and 5.7K video recording, albeit without sensor-based image stabilization.

There's real power under the hood, and a gorgeous design to boot. It's not quite as retro-feeling as the X100VI, but it isn't far off — and that zoom lens versatility is a real win. If you're looking for a versatile everyday compact camera, the L10 is a fabulous pick.

Read my in-depth Panasonic Lumix L10 review

4. Insta360 Luna Ultra

• Release date: June 10
• Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Insta360 and DJI's rivalry got extra spicy this year when Insta360 launched its first vlogging camera, the dual-lens Luna Ultra, pipping the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P to the post. Cue lawsuits and counter lawsuits.

I've tested both compact vlogging cameras (though at the time of writing my DJI Pocket 4P review is under embargo), and they take this format to new heights. Both feature dual gimbal cameras with 20mm (1x) and 60mm (3x) lenses, and an extended 6x lossless zoom.

Each brand takes a different stab at the format; the Luna Ultra features a unique and genuinely useful detachable remote and screen, meaning you can see and control the camera from up to 20m away. That module also features a built-in mic, making solo vlogging so much easier. I enjoyed DJI's magnetic fill light, which is powered by the camera.

The DJI Pocket series has dominated this space for years with no real rival, but that's no longer the case. For me it will be hard to go back to a single-lens vlogging camera having tested both the Luna Ultra and Pocket 4P — they both get a mention here, because I expect them to be among the best-selling cameras over the next year.

Read my in-depth Insta360 Luna Ultra review

3. Ricoh GR IV

• Release date: Janauary 15, 2026 (announced August 20, 2025)
• Rating: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

As a Ricoh GR III X user, I had been patiently waiting for the Ricoh GR IV, hoping that the latest-generation model would address a few of my issues with my beloved premium pocket compact camera. Sadly, the GR IV didn't deliver on several counts: it again lacks a built-in flash and tilt screen, nor does it have any real improvements in autofocus performance or build quality.

However, the GR IV came with surprising upgrades elsewhere, and raises the image-quality bar for such a truly tiny and pocketable camera. A new 26MP sensor and refined lens gave a small boost in resolution, plus a notable improvement in image stabilization performance. Its lightning-fast startup time further enhances the GR series' street photography chops, while battery life saw a welcome boost, and internal storage was increased.

With those upgrades came a price hike, and the GR IV costs much more than the GR III did, especially if you live in the US. However, there's still no real competition for a camera of this size and quality, and Ricoh has further expanded the range with HDF and Monochrome versions of the GR IV.

Read my in-depth Ricoh GR IV review

2. Oppo Find X9 Ultra

• Release date: May 2
• Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)

This round-up isn't confined to cameras — I had the pleasure of traveling to China for the first time earlier this year to put the Oppo Find X9 Ultra's camera through its paces amid the stunning mountainous landscape of Yunnan province. Put simply, the Find X9 Ultra is the most versatile cameraphone I've ever used.

The flagship device is globally available, and costs as much as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but that seemingly hasn't deterred fans desiring its five-camera array and top-spec screen, battery and chipset. The 1x main camera paired with the Hasselblad Master mode delivers especially stunning natural colors and RAW photos up to 200MP, while the class-leading 3x and 10x telephoto cameras each pack the largest sensors in their respective formats.

I shot over 2,000 photos with the Find X9 Ultra, and shared my gallery and overall impressions, which you can find in the link below. I also compared the smartphone to the Lumix TZ300 travel zoom compact, and felt that its 1x and 3x cameras were arguably even better quality, although the telephoto lenses are still no match for the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 S II professional lens.

The quality of smartphone telephoto cameras reached new heights in the X9 Ultra, and it has become my most-used camera this year. There's even a 300mm teleconverter lens accessory that further stretches that reach, and which performed admirably when I took it to a pro soccer game.

Read my in-depth Oppo Find X9 Ultra review

1. Sony A7R VI

• Release date: May 13
• Rating: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

I've been reviewing cameras for over 15 years, so it takes something special to cause me to use the word 'perfect' — and that's what the Sony A7R VI is. It's a professional mirrorless camera with a stacked 66.8MP full-frame sensor and lightning-fast burst-shooting and autofocus performance, with an all-new higher-capacity battery bagging you more shots, and 8K video.

During my lengthy review period I shot everything from landscapes to wildlife and portraits, and the A7R VI can handle it all with ease. It's also a seriously well-designed camera, with a high-resolution EVF and multi-angle touchscreen, and is complemented by a rich selection of professional lenses for just about any use case.

In one sense, Sony has shot itself in the foot here — by giving the A7R VI such raw power and quality, it renders the pricier A1 II redundant for most users. The A7R VI can do 95% what the A1 II can do, for a much lower cost. I've never owned a Sony Alpha mirrorless camera, but the A7R VI has me seriously tempted, especially given that Sony has made my favorite lenses over the last 18 months. If I could keep a hold of a single new camera from 2026, the A7R VI would be it.

Read my in-depth Sony A7R VI review

Honorable mentionsLeica Q3 MonochromTim ColemanDJI Avata 360Future | Sam KieldsenCanon EOS R6 Mark IIIFuture / Alex WhitelockInstax mini Evo CinemaTim ColemanDJI Lito X1Future | Sam Kieldsen

We've tested plenty more cameras throughout 2026, and five other models I want to highlight are the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Leica Q3 Monochrom, and DJI's Lito X1 and Avata 360 drones.

The Instax Mini Evo Cinema is probably the quirkiest of the lot, being a 3-in-1 Instax that shoots photo, video and prints onto Instax Mini film. The 'Eras' dial is its standout feature — it's a dial with 10 settings, one for each decade spanning the last 100 years that mimicks the look of the media of that time.

Canon launched its incredible EOS R6 Mark III full-frame mirrorless camera at the start of the year, and it went head to head with the Sony A7 V as a top all-rounder, with no real weaknesses for photo and video use.

Monochrome-only cameras made a return too. I tested the Leica Q3 Monochrom, which it shoots next-level black-and-white photos, while Ricoh followed up its GR IV with its first stab at this niche, the GR IV Monochrome, which sadly comes with a big mark-up over the color original. If you only shoot in black and white, these cameras should top your list.

Despite its US ban, DJI continues to lead the pack with new drones — we gave both the Lito X1 and Avata 360 five-star ratings in our reviews. The Avata 360 is a more versatile 360-degree drone than the Antigravity A1, while the Lito X1 is incredible value given that it has object avoidance and costs around half the price of the Mini 5 Pro.

I have a feeling that the second half of 2026 will deliver plenty more treats, though I'm curious about what Nikon and Fujifilm could do next. Which new cameras would you like to see in 2026? Let me know in the comments below.

• AWS wants to help customers deploy agentic AI at scale
• New FDE organization backed by $1 billion in AWS funding
• BMW and Lyft are early success stories

Amazon Web Services has announced plans to spend $1 billion deploying engineers in customer workplaces to help them build and deploy their own AI systems.

The dedicated AWS Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) organization focuses on getting organizations up and running with agentic AI quickly before making customers self-sufficient so that engineers can depart at the end of the project.

Frontier AI VP Francessca Vasquez explained many of the engineers are already behind many of AWS' own AI services, hinting at the expertise that customers can get access to.

AWS to forward-deploy engineers to speed up AI rollout

"Along with agentic systems running in their own AWS environment, they gain lasting AI skills, workflows, and patterns they can use to innovate independently," Vasquez wrote.

FDEs will collaborate with business leaders, engineering teams, security teams and other relevant workers to build AI systems and integrate AI agents into existing infrastructure, rather than just provide no-action consultancy services.

The project marks the next stages of artificial intelligence, focusing on agentic AI rather than generative AI. Customers who sign up to the program will get to explore automation tools, autonomous AI and industry-specific applications rather than just basic chatbots.

Amazon says it's doing this because access to models and model capability are no longer barriers to adoption – instead, organizations are struggling to actually implement them at scale.

Prior to the creation of this FDE organization, Amazon's engineers had already been deployed to BMW where they reduced service disruptions across 23 million connected vehicles, and to Lyft where they helped resolve driver support issues 87% faster.

The Allen Institute, Cox Automotive, the NBA, the NFL, Ricoh and Southwest Airlines are already early customers for the new FDE team.

• Fable 5 is back after a US shutdown
• Anthropic called it “a misunderstanding”
• The case could reshape future AI launches

Anthropic’s Fable 5 is back after the US government lifted export controls that had forced the company to suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 earlier in June. The company said it believed the shutdown was based on “a misunderstanding,” after officials raised concerns about a possible jailbreak and national security risk.

In a statement on its website, Anthropic said it is not against the US government having the power to block unsafe AI releases, but argued that this should not have been the case with Fable 5.

“As we have stated publicly, we believe the government should have the ability to block unsafe deployments, as part of a statutory process that is transparent, fair, clear, and grounded in technical facts. This action does not adhere to those principles”, said Anthropic.

Anthropic is now working to restore access to Fable 5 for its users.

The more interesting question now is not simply whether Fable 5 is available again, but what this episode says about the future of AI model launches. The most powerful AI models may no longer be treated like ordinary software updates. Going forward they may increasingly be treated like strategic technologies that governments can pause, restrict, and negotiate over.

What happened?

On June 9, Anthropic released Fable 5, a restricted version of its Mythos 5. Anthropic said Fable 5 had been released with safeguards designed to prevent misuse in cybersecurity attacks, while the full Mythos 5 was kept under tighter controls because of its more advanced capabilities.

On June 12, Anthropic received a US government export control directive. The directive suspended access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for foreign nationals, including Anthropic employees. Anthropic said the practical effect was that it had to disable the models for all customers to ensure compliance.

The issue appears to have centered on whether it was possible to jailbreak Fable 5 and bypass its guardrails. (A jailbreak is essentially a method of persuading an AI model to bypass its safety restrictions).

Anthropic pushed back, saying it had not been shown evidence of a broad or universal jailbreak. Access is now being restored after the US Commerce Department lifted the restrictions. Reuters reports the restrictions were lifted after enhanced safeguards were put in place.

In its response to the US government’s restrictions, Anthropic argued that “perfect jailbreak resistance is not currently possible.” Its case was that if every narrow jailbreak is enough to force a model offline, then no frontier AI model may ever be safe enough to launch. The company warned that applying this standard across the industry could “halt all new model deployments.”

Why this matters beyond Anthropic

Until recently, a new AI model launch mostly meant faster answers, more coding features, or smarter replies. Fable 5’s shutdown shows that frontier models are now powerful enough that governments may step in before, during, or after their launch. That changes the relationship between AI companies, users, developers, and regulators in a way we're going to have to get used to.

OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 rollout has already been limited for similar reasons. Reuters reported on June 26 that OpenAI had delayed a full public launch of GPT-5.6 at the US government’s request, with access limited first to a small group of vetted partners whose details were shared with the authorities.

Fable 5 may be back, but the recent developments have changed the mood around frontier AI model launches. A model can be announced, celebrated, pulled offline, negotiated over, and restored all in the space of a few weeks. Anthropic may call this one “a misunderstanding,” but it also looks like a preview of how the most powerful AI systems may be governed from now on.

• Nanoleaf announced a new $80 smart ceiling light
• It comes with three different lighting modes and also supports Matter
• It's on sale in the US and Canada now

Nanoleaf has unveiled a new device coming to its range of smart home tech, and it’s a small ceiling light that packs quite a punch.

Yesterday (June 30) the Toronto-based company announced its small 12-inch Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light on its blog, which is now available to purchase for $79.99 in the US and Canada. We don’t know when or if its new ceiling light will be available internationally, but we’re keeping our eyes peeled for more news.

There’s not an evening spent in my home where the big light is turned on, so having a neat device like Nanoleaf’s new ceiling light is perfect for when you want to set the ambience for an entire room without turning on individual lamps. It can also be wired into your home, easily replacing your existing ceiling light.

As far as its features go, Nanoleaf’s ceiling light packs 19 LEDs and has three modes. ‘Front’ mode projects 2600 lumens of light filling rooms of up to 150 sq. ft, making it ideal for things such as cooking or reading. ‘Back’ mode shines light onto the ceiling to set the mood for times where you want to relax or indulge in a good movie, while ‘Front and Back’ mode is a combination of the two.

We’ve tested an extensive range of the best smart lights from Nanoleaf and there’s a plethora of reasons why we keep going back for more. One of them is its endless color wheel of lighting options, and the new ceiling light is no exception.

(Image credit: Nanoleaf)

Nanoleaf says its ceiling light has roughly 16 million color choices, so I think it’s safe to say that you won’t run short of options when setting the right mood in your home. Additionally, it has a CRI 95 rating which, if you’re unfamiliar with the lingo, means that every color in your room will shine naturally when the light hits. Essentially, this rating is the gold standard.

Ceiling lights have had their time in the spotlight quite a bit recently. Philips, another behemoth in the world of smart lighting, launched an impressive ceiling device that imitates natural sunlight. However, though it looks stellar, it’s very pricey and falls flat on the smart features front, which is where Nanoleaf’s latest device wins.

While the Philips Skylight automatically adjusts daylight temperature as the day goes on, it’s not a smart light in the conventional sense as you can’t connect it to smart home hubs. In the case of Nanoleaf, the ceiling light is Matter compatible and supports Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa smart speakers, allowing you to use voice control to set the mood regardless of which system you’re using.

The other handy trick with the ceiling light is that it can do all the thinking for you when you set schedules, so the mood will automatically change to correspond with your set times. That’s not the only means of control however, the ceiling light can also be used with the Nanoleaf Sense+ switch (sold separately) which uses motion and daylight sensors to take the light’s smarts to the next level.

Despite Philips having the more premium ceiling light, Nanoleaf’s newest addition tackles a lot of pain points from its $500 rival. And yes, it’s not as big or bold, but for the roster of color options, Matter compatibility, and other smart home tools, $80 is quite the steal.

Buy it for the display's privacy screen feature (if you can afford it).

One excels at fitness, the other at sleep. After extensive testing, here's what you need to know about these smart health tracking devices.

I'm enjoying the cultural references in all episode titles of Rick and Morty season 9, but this week's, Mortgully: The Last Rickforest, sounds like a complete enigma.

All we have to go on is one short line: "Rick and Morty gotta evolve, broh." Take into account eight and a half seasons of absolute chaos, and this could literally mean anything.

Still, we've only got a few days of speculating left. But when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 7 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

What time can I watch Rick and Morty season 9 episode 7 on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

In the US, Rick and Morty season 9 episode 7 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, July 5 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET.

Viewers elsewhere, as well as in the US, have two streaming options: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 7 on Monday, July 6.

These are the timings you need to take note of:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 come out?

(Image credit: Adult Swim)

Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: out now
• Episode 7: July 5
• Episode 8: July 12
• Episode 9: July 19
• Episode 10: July 26