Technology

• Android Auto's Spotify app gets a handy little redesign in latest update
• Jam function allows those in the vehicle to collaborate on playlists
• Minor changes to the UI make Spotify easier to navigate

A recent update to the Android Auto Spotify app has introduced some handy design tweaks and an additional feature that lets passengers to get involved in the playlist-curating action.

Arguably the biggest update is the addition of the popular ‘Jam’ function that allows anyone in the car to scan a QR code and then join the Jam session to add tracks to a shared queue. It saves the need for a driver or front passenger to manually enter musical suggestions.

The driver or owner of the Spotify account linked to the Android Auto system still has full control over who can join and suggest music, but the owner must have a Spotify Premium account to commence a Jam session. That said, free users can still join the Jam.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

Some of the other updates are slightly less obvious, with a mild refresh to the user interface that includes a more prominent ‘Downloaded’ section in the library, which allows for easier navigation to those tracks, podcasts or audiobooks that have been downloaded for offline use.

In addition to this, there is a new floating search shortcut that opens a dedicated search page for Spotify, according to 9to5Google. Prior to this update, voice-operated Google Assistant was the only way to safely search for music when driving.

Rather than Google Assistant finding the track and immediately playing it, the new dedicated Spotify search function allows the user to search for albums and tracks, with the results shown in the Spotify app.

More to come from Android Auto

(Image credit: Google)

In May this year, Google hosted its annual I/O event, which introduced new developer programs and tools that would allow greater flexibility on the Android Auto platform.

Games and communication apps were a particular focus, with the promise of greater video integration when the vehicle is parked. Google also stated that it was working with OEMs to enable audio-only listening for video apps while driving.

According to 9to5google, other media apps will receive similar updates in the coming months, with Amazon Music and YouTube Music all due a refresh.

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Artificial general intelligence (AGI) has become one of the most talked-about topics in technology circles, evoking excitement, speculation and concern. Yet for leaders navigating today’s rapidly evolving AI and digital landscape, the more relevant questions are not about when AGI might arrive, but what it means, why it matters and how to prepare.

As we move through 2025, the AGI conversation must shift from abstract futurism to concrete implications for markets, operations and society.

Explaining AGI beyond the buzzword

Generative AI, which surged in popularity during 2022 and 2023, is undergoing a necessary recalibration. After widespread experimentation, many enterprises are discovering that implementation hurdles—ranging from hallucination risks to integration costs and regulatory uncertainty—are often greater than anticipated.

Gartner now places generative AI in the woeful “trough of disillusionment” category of its Hype Cycle—not because the underlying technologies lack promise, but because expectations exceeded what current systems can reliably deliver.

This moment of pause presents an opportunity for business leaders to reframe the AGI discussion away from timelines and hype, and toward more meaningful strategic considerations. One such consideration is the question of which capabilities truly define AGI—that is, what exactly is AGI?

The term is often used loosely to mean a sort of omniscient software, but in reality, general intelligence encompasses a variety of functions: transferring knowledge across domains, reasoning about causality, navigating social contexts, generating creative solutions and making decisions under uncertainty.

Each of these functions presents distinct technical challenges and offers different kinds of value—and risk. Rather than treating AGI as a monolith, businesses should assess which cognitive functions are most relevant to their industries and operational needs—those capable of best delivering shareholder value, contributing to society, and strengthening long-term strategic advantage.

Moving from AGI benchmarks to AGI benefits

Similarly, progress in AI tools should not be measured by leaderboard performance alone. Accuracy in narrow tasks is not equivalent to intelligence. A model that excels at answering trivia questions may fail catastrophically in unfamiliar or ambiguous scenarios.

For businesses, robustness, adaptability and reliability matter far more than benchmark supremacy. The focus should be on how systems perform in dynamic, real-world environments—how they generalize, how they fail and how those failures are detected and mitigated.

The evolving regulatory landscape

Governance is another area where AGI debates intersect with pressing business concerns. Regulatory frameworks are evolving but remain uneven. The European Union’s AI Act took hold in 2024, establishing specific requirements for high-risk systems. Global standards organizations like ISO and IEEE are proposing early frameworks for AGI safety, but comprehensive oversight mechanisms remain nascent.

For companies operating across jurisdictions or deploying powerful AI models, proactive governance—through internal audits, industry collaboration and policy advocacy—is quickly becoming a strategic necessity.

The here and now of AGI

As businesses grapple with how AGI will work in the future, current AI systems are already reshaping industries and altering risk landscapes, for better and worse. In healthcare, diagnostic tools are improving access and efficiency, while innovations like Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold are accelerating drug discovery. In construction, AI-based safety monitoring has been linked to significant reductions in workplace incidents.

Meanwhile, in finance and commerce, the rise of deepfake technologies has exposed organizations to new forms of fraud and brand risk. In one 2024 poll, 26% of executives said their organization had experienced at least one “deepfake incident targeting financial and accounting data” in the past 12 months—a trend with real implications for cybersecurity and trust.

The labor market is also undergoing transformation. Cognizant’s New work, new world research found that 90% of jobs could be disrupted by generative AI. This change will surely be exacerbated by AGI. For business leaders, this is not merely a workforce planning issue but a strategic opportunity: to invest in reskilling, shape future-of-work policies, and support talent transitions that keep their organizations resilient and competitive.

The time to address AGI questions is now

All these developments suggest that the most urgent AGI-related challenges are not in the distant future—they are here now. The AGI risks that often animate discussions, such as misalignment with human values or concentration of power, are already playing out in today’s systems. Addressing these challenges now not only mitigates near-term harm but also lays the foundation for responsibly navigating more advanced capabilities down the line.

Ultimately, AGI should not be seen as a finish line, but as part of a broader continuum of increasingly capable AI systems. The question may not be when machines might match human intelligence, but what kind of intelligent systems we are choosing to develop today, and whether they align with long-term goals of trust, accountability and economic inclusion.

We list the best Large Language Models (LLMs) for coding.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we 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/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Ingram Micro tells some employees to work from home as it tackles cyberattack
• Unconfirmed reports claim the attack is the work of SafePay
• No information about stolen data yet

Ingram Micro, a global distributor of information technology (IT) products and services, has confirmed it suffered a ransomware attack which forced it to shut down parts of its infrastructure, prevented it from operating properly, and sent some of its employees to work from home.

In a press release published on its website, the company said it recently identified ransomware on “certain of its internal systems.” As a result, it “proactively” took some systems offline, and implemented “other mitigation measures”. Third-party cybersecurity experts were also brought in to assist with the investigation, and the police were notified.

“Ingram Micro is working diligently to restore the affected systems so that it can process and ship orders, and the company apologizes for any disruption this issue is causing its customers, vendor partners, and others,” the press release concludes.

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Smuggling through

While Ingram Micro did not detail the attack, the culprits, or sensitive files potentially stolen in the attack, BleepingComputer reported that the incident was the work of SafePay, a relatively young ransomware operation that emerged between September and November, 2024.

This group engages in the usual double-extortion tactics (encryption + data theft), and claims to have breached more than 200 organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, or education.

The publication also reports that SafePay’s hackers broke in through the company’s GlobalProtect VPN platform, and left ransom notes on employee devices. Some employees were sent to work from home and were allegedly told not to use the GlobalProtect VPN access.

Among the systems impacted by the breach is Ingram Micro’s AI-powered Xvantage distribution platform, and the Impulse license provisioning platform. Other internal services are operating as usual.

Ingram Micro is a giant in the IT products and services industry, servicing more than 160,000 customers globally, including giants such as Apple, HP, or Cisco.

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A US-only version of TikTok is in development with plans to replace the current version for American users, according to a report in The Information.

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #757).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #758) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FLING
• KEY
• CARPENTER
• BENCH
• PIN
• CANDY
• MAJOR
• THING
• MIRROR
• LEGEND
• AFFAIR
• CODE
• SCALE
• PASSWORD
• LOCKER
• RELATIONS

NYT Connections today (game #758) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: On the side
• GREEN: Where athletes go after a game
• BLUE: “Open up”
• PURPLE: Share the same name

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #758) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: LIAISON 
• GREEN: SEEN IN A LOCKER ROOM 
• BLUE: SOMETHING ENTERED FOR ACCESS 
• PURPLE: JOHNS 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #758) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #758, are…

• YELLOW: LIAISON AFFAIR, FLING, RELATIONS, THING
• GREEN: SEEN IN A LOCKER ROOM BENCH, LOCKER, MIRROR, SCALE
• BLUE: SOMETHING ENTERED FOR ACCESS CODE, KEY, PASSWORD, PIN
• PURPLE: JOHNS CANDY, CARPENTER, LEGEND, MAJOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This was one of the easiest rounds of Connections I can remember, with no crossover confusion and four very gettable groups.

Despite this I’m still annoyed that I didn’t get JOHNS, as it was the first thing I thought of when I saw LEGEND and CANDY, but I pursued LIASON instead. Including a vintage British prime minister may have thrown some players, but as a vintage Brit myself I had no such excuse.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, July 7, game #757)

• YELLOW: INFORMANT CANARY, LEAK, RAT, SOURCE
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION FOOTPRINT, IMPACT, MARK, SPLASH
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES BLOCK, DRIBBLE, PASS, SHOOT
• PURPLE: TOP___ BANANA, DOG, HAT, SECRET

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #491).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… So extra

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SOME 
• TRIP
• DEAR
• STONE
• SORE
• PRAM

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #492) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #492, are…

• TIME
• CHANGE
• KEYS
• MOMENT
• BEDROOM
• HANDS
• PARTS
• TIRES
• SPANGRAM: SPARES

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

It took me a while to move on today after getting TIME, so I took a hint from my many non-game words and CHANGE made me switch from thinking we were looking for extra things to spare things.

The spangram SPARES was disconcertingly short; I was looking for other words to tag on to “spare” before finally just adding the S.

That said, it was a pleasant change from those big curly spangram snakes that take up big chunks of the board.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, July 7, game #491)

• BUNK
• LAKE
• FLAGPOLE
• CANTEEN
• LODGE
• FIELDHOUSE
• SPANGRAM: SUMMER CAMP

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #1260).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• P

• G

• O

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1261) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1261, are…

• PLIED
• PRANK
• GAWKY
• OXIDE

This was a really difficult one.

Somehow I managed to get through without a mistake. This was mainly due to using common letter combinations – PRA and GA and IDE and LIED – and then filling in the blanks. It doesn’t always work, but it did for me today.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1261) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1261, are…

• GODLY
• GIANT
• PRIOR
• HARRY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY

• Nvidia is rumored to be cutting production of RTX 5000 GPUs
• Manufacturing levels are supposedly looking at a cut of 20% or more in July
• If true, as the effects of that filter through, we can expect price rises by September

Nvidia could be planning to cut down production of its RTX 5000 graphics cards, according to a new rumor, which would of course mean less stock on shelves.

Japanese tech blog Gazlog noticed a Chiphell post (via Wccftech) claiming this is the case, and that Nvidia has already reduced supply of its Blackwell graphics cards as of June.

We're told that in May 2025, RTX 5000 supply stabilized and stock levels of the GPUs increased, with prices falling – in some cases, below MSRP. Team Green has therefore seemingly decided to reduce stock levels from July, with supply expected to drop by between 20% to 30% compared to June - and as noted, there's already been something of a cut in production for June.

Of course, less inventory would mean the possible specter of GPU price rises, but we must be very careful around the speculation aired here – particularly because it derives from Chiphell, which isn't always the most reliable source (though it has provided hardware rumors that have proved true in the past).

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Analysis: Grab a GPU quickly?

I'd be particularly cautious about this rumor since the theorized drop in production is a hefty one. If true, though, it would mean that prices for Nvidia's RTX 5000 GPUs are surely set to rise.

Why would Nvidia be planning such a move? Well, part of the assertion made here is that prices have fallen too much, due to GPU stock getting beefed up beyond the demand that's out there. Another theory is that Nvidia may want to allocate chips elsewhere – namely to graphics cards for China, and primarily the new version of the GeForce RTX 5090 D (the Asian variant of the Blackwell flagship). The latter sounds a plausible enough scenario.

Of course, if production is indeed being adjusted as this rumor suggests, the effects of that won't be felt immediately, but rather in a couple of months. (As there are already chips out there being distributed, of course, in the long chain of events that happens when putting together graphics cards).

This amounts to the prospect of price rises around September time, and funnily enough, that idea chimes with other chatter from the GPU grapevine that we've been hearing lately. Namely the speculation from Moore's Law is Dead on YouTube that due to various factors – relating to both tariffs, and hardware upgrades because of the end of support for Windows 10 – graphics card price hikes are coming in Q4 of 2025 (from October, in other words).

All of which, given this fresh rumor, adds up to some seriously heavy hinting that now might be the best time to buy a GPU, particularly if you're eyeing up one of Nvidia's RTX 5000 models. And with Prime Day about to happen – and early deals already available, in fact – you might want to keep a close eye on potential GPU bargains therein. Any discounted graphics cards could possibly represent the cheapest prices you might see this year, as Black Friday will come too late to avoid what's in the pipeline in terms of price rises, at least in theory.

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• PowerShell 2.0 gets pulled from the latest Windows 11 Insider build
• Versions 5.1 and 7.x are the best replacements
• No word on removal from Windows Server

Microsoft has confirmed PowerShell 2.0 is officially being removed from Windows, starting with the latest Windows 11 Insider builds – Build 27891 (Canary Channel).

The news comes eight years after PowerShell 2.0 was deprecated in 2017 due to dependency-related delays (for example older SQL Server versions), but Microsoft retained backwards compatibility to ease the transition.

It's not to say that PowerShell has gone entirely – instead, users will be directed to version 5.1 (which comes preinstalled on most modern Windows editions) or 7.x (which offer cross-platform support).

PowerShell 2.0 finally steps aside for newer versions

As a reminder of how long PowerShell 2.0 has been around, it originally shipped with Windows 7, Vista and XP, as well as Server 2003 and 2008. Although it's set to be removed with the latest version of Windows 11, Microsoft has not shared any plans to remove it from Windows Server as yet.

"More information will be shared in the coming months on the removal of Windows PowerShell 2.0 in an upcoming update for Windows 11," Windows Insider Program Lead Amanda Langowski and Principal Product Manager Brandon LeBland wrote in a blog post.

The removal of PowerShell 2.0 is the biggest update coming in upcoming versions of Windows 11, but Build 27891 also includes fixes to the 'Reset this PC' option, taskbar acrylic rendering, non-English characters (like Vietnamese and Arabic) and other bugs, including Windows Update getting stuck at 2% on some devices.

Redmond also acknowledged some issues with the update, including a Windows Hello pin and biometrics glitch on Copilot+ PCs and rendering issues for remote desktops on ARM64 machines.

In the meantime, users wanting a more reliable OS can exit the Canary Channel by installing a fresh copy of Windows 11.

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• Foundation star Lee Pace says viewers won't recognize Brother Day in season 3
• Unlike his forebears, the Empire's primary leader has no interest in ruling the galaxy
• Apple's highly-rated space opera returns on Friday, July 11

Foundation season 3's version of Brother Day is a marked departure from the autocratic ruler we've seen in previous seasons. That's according to Lee Pace, who's starred in the Apple TV+ show since the beginning, and who suggested fans will be shocked when they meet this season's take on the character.

Brother Day is one of many seemingly identical clones of Cleon I, the Imperium's first tyrannical overlord, who laud it over the galaxy. However, think back to Foundation season 1 episode 9, and you'll remember Cleon I's DNA was tampered with by galactic rebels, which means his clones become more unique with each generation that passes. Long story short: each clone has their own distinct personalities, ideologies, and agendas.

Where season 3's free-spirited iteration of Day is concerned, he has no interest in ruling alongside this entry's Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) and Brother Dusk (Terrance Mann).

Sure, Day is as self-serving as past iterations but, instead of channeling his energy into maintaining the Empire's grip on the galaxy, Day is only concerned with enjoying life's simple pleasures. That's especially true due to the Imperium's rapidly dwindling influence on the galaxy, which is laid bare in Foundation's season 3 premiere.

It's this slacker persona and Day's garish wardrobe this season that immediately reminded me of The Dude, aka the apathetic protagonist played by Jeff Bridges in 1998 cult classic movie The Big Lebowski.

When I raised this with Pace in a recent interview, he laughed, admitted he could see the resemblance, and then described how he approached this reshaping of Day as an individual.

Events that transpire in season 3 cause Day to leave the sanctity of The Imperium's palace (Image credit: Apple TV+)

"That's always the fun part of the riddle inside this character," Pace said. "They [Dawn, Day, and Dusk] are different people because they've broken out of this construct that they're the same person, so you can really start to develop who they are.

"This season, you've got a Day who thinks he's absolutely unique. He doesn't care [about the Empire] and he resents them all [Dawn, Dusk, and Laura Birn's robot major domo Demerzel]. He's got an emotional detachment from the position he holds and is only interested in pleasure.

"He just wants to be lazy, fat, and happy," Pace continued. "There's something really fun about playing that kind of character at the so-called end of days. The wolf [Empire's possible downfall] is at the door and the Emperor [Day] is so indifferent to it. It cracks me up."

Foundation's third season will premiere on Apple's streaming platform, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on July 11.

Before it does, read my Foundation season 3 review to see what I thought of its first five episodes and then read my ultimate guide on Foundation season 3 for more on its cast, plot, and the sci-fi series' future.

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• Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 for market share
• 52% of those using Microsoft's desktop operating systems are now on Windows 11
• That's a hefty swing of almost 10% away from Windows 10

At long last, Windows 11 is present on more PCs globally than Windows 10, at least according to one set of figures from an analytics firm.

StatCounter provided fresh statistics for July which show that Windows 11 has accelerated to account for 52% of all Windows versions worldwide, leaving Windows 10 in its wake on 44.59%.

That's quite a shift from the previous month where Windows 10 remained just in the lead on 48.76% with Windows 11 on 47.98%. So, Windows 11 was not far off a full percentage point behind in June, but is now in the lead by 7.4%, a swing of near 10%.

Could this be the start of a mass exodus of Windows 10 stalwarts fleeing for the shores of Windows 11? Well, that can't be ruled out, and it's clear that time is running short when it comes to the looming deadline for the end of support for Windows 10, which is October 2025 - which is only three months away now.

However, I'm not convinced that there will be a stampede of migrators, because while I've argued in the past that you should be making the upgrade to Windows 11 early - assuming you can (due to your PC's spec) - there's no longer quite the same sense of urgency in this matter.

Why not? Let's go over that next.

Analysis: Support and scrapheaps

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Something changed with Windows 10's extended support program for consumers recently, and it's worth recapping in case you missed it. Microsoft decided to offer an alternative to the $30 fee that was previously required to get an extra year of security updates for Windows 10 (through to October 2026).

So, instead of stumping up that cash, you can now elect to have the Windows Backup app sync all your PC's settings to the cloud. If you allow that to happen - via signing in with a Microsoft Account - then you can get the extra year of all-important security updates at no cost. This gives you a lot more breathing space to work out what you might want to do next, which is great for those who can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to its loftier system requirements (or those who simply refuse).

Of course, 'free' is not usually completely free, and the cost here, as it were, is allowing your settings to be synced. Due to this, some online commenters have accused Microsoft of almost a kind of 'blackmail' in terms of getting access to your data. However, I should note that the wording of Microsoft's offer is important here, and you're not syncing all your personal data to OneDrive or anything - all you have to sync are your Windows settings.

And having those settings synced should help in the future, too, if you want to make the transition to Windows 11 (or the following version of Windows) at a later date on a new PC. Microsoft's hope, it seems, is this will make that transition easier, and so folks are therefore more likely to tread that path.

I don't think there's any underlying motive from Microsoft here to get its claws into your personal data as some are suggesting, so in my book, this all seems fair enough. If you're not convinced, however, that's equally fair - you don't have to take Microsoft up on this option. You can pay instead (or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, if you have them, which is another alternative), or just go ahead and switch from Windows 10 come its End of Life in October 2025.

Whatever you do, don't stay on Windows 10 without security updates - never mind worrying about Microsoft's nose potentially being in your data, a hacker could really make your life a misery by compromising your PC due to an unpatched vulnerability because your system doesn't have security updates.

Taking a broader perspective, I've half-convinced myself that Microsoft may even offer more than a year of additional support to consumers (in the same way it treats businesses).

Mainly because this new Windows Backup-related offer has come in at the last minute, largely I suspect to assuage some of the fears of the 'towering scrapheap of Windows 10 PCs' activists who are (rightly) concerned about the environmental impact of Microsoft's Windows 11 system requirements. (Those that prevent a lot of would-be upgraders from moving to the newer OS, due to having an older CPU, or the lack of a specific security feature, TPM 2.0).

And so I don't think it's unimaginable that Microsoft might offer a second year of extended support for consumers, and I very firmly believe the company should do so. We shall see, but for now, with an extra year of support on the table for free (effectively), there's no need to rush to abandon Windows 10 for many folks. Not unless your trust in Microsoft is particularly low, or you don't have a Microsoft account and don't want to sign up for one (to sync your settings).

There are, of course, other options aside from Windows - the main one being a switch to Linux. Of course, in that case, you need to be prepared to leave Microsoft's ecosystem and put up with some of the limitations that one of the best Linux distros will come with (mainly around compatible software, particularly PC games).

Meanwhile, we can expect further spikes in adoption for Windows 11 in the near future, although perhaps not to the same extent that some people might expect, given those extra choices Microsoft has just introduced.

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The best Netflix movies often get a sequel, but that’s not gone down too well for 2020’s The Old Guard. Its sequel is part of everything coming to Netflix in July 2025, but after arriving on the platform last week, critics and fans alike have given the superhero action film a big thumbs down.

If you’re not familiar with the plot, Charlize Theron plays Andy, who leads a group of immortal mercenaries that are able to heal themselves. In the sequel movie, they face off against a new enemy in the name of protecting humanity, all the while dealing with a long-lost immortal’s return.

Unfortunately, many have highlighted problems with the film, including an undeveloped script and a cheap overall look, which have been cited as reasons not to bother with The Old Guard 2. Still, the sequel has managed to make it into Netflix’s top 10 most-watched movies, and I think there’s an overlooked reason for why it should stay there.

Why I recommend watching The Old Guard 2

Spoilers follow for The Old Guard 2.

Two words: Charlize Theron. More specifically, four words: Charlize Theron’s leading romance. Cut through the noise of reviews and enraged social media posts, and you’ll find a deserved appreciation for the will-they-won’t-they love at the movie’s centre. Andy has an unspoken connection with Quỳnh (Veronica Ngô), an immortal who used to be connected to The Old Guard. We met the pair during the first film, but the sequel brings fans ever-closer to a potential Andy-Quỳnh kiss.

It doesn’t happen, but that’s almost not the point. The Old Guard 2 might not be hitting all the beats of a well-crafted film, but it’s playing this particular storyline to its advantage. By taking the time to develop what’s between them in the background, there will be a more satisfying payoff in the long run – and that means the increased possibility of The Old Guard 3.

Even if that doesn’t happen – Andy and Quỳnh clearly only have eyes for each other even after 500 years alive. Netflix should be praised for exploring a different kind of vulnerability and representation .It’s not an outright LGBTQ+ film, but the new Netflix movie is giving us range in its love, and we can all get something from that.

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• The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could be far slimmer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max
• However, not all sources agree on how thick Samsung's phone will be
• Samsung's upcoming flagship might also have more RAM than its predecessor, among other spec changes

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max are arguably two of the most highly anticipated upcoming phone releases, but while they’re both sure to excel in most areas, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may have the edge in at least one way.

According to @UniverseIce – a leaker with a good track record – the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will be under 8mm thick, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be 8.76mm thick.

We’ve heard roughly that thickness for the iPhone 17 Pro Max before, with another source saying it will be 8.75mm thick, but this is the first we’re hearing of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s thickness.

The designs of iPhone16 Pro max and Galaxy S25 Ultra are the closest at the moment, and their length, width and thickness are basically the same.However, iPhone17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the beginning of two completely different designs. The thickness of iPhone 17…July 6, 2025

If this latest leak is correct then the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will be significantly slimmer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and – as the source points out – this could also be a sign of diverging design philosophies for these two brands, as while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are almost identically thick, at 8.2mm and 8.3mm respectively. This change would see Samsung slimming down its flagship, while Apple goes in the opposite direction.

This source also claims that the weight difference between these phones will be even greater, though they don't specify how much each handset will weigh.

However, while the source of this leak has a good track record, we would take it with a pinch of salt, especially as another Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra specs leak suggests the phone will instead be 8.1mm thick.

This comes from leaker @PandaFlashPro (via NotebookCheck), and while they don’t have quite as much of a track record to go on as @UniverseIce, they have correctly leaked Samsung information in the past.

A new chipset and more RAM

This isn’t the only Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra detail @PandaFlashPro leaked, as they also claim it will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, and a similar 6.9-inch screen to the current model, just with different (presumably smaller) bezels.

Additionally, they state that the number and layout of camera lenses will remain the same, just without the large camera rings found on the S25 Ultra, and that there will once again be a 200MP main camera, but that this will be packing a new lens.

There will also apparently once again be a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 3x telephoto lens that may or may not have a new sensor.

In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the 3x telephoto has a 10MP sensor, but supposedly the company hasn’t decided whether to replace this or not. The front-facing camera though will apparently be improved, with new features like 4K 120fps slow-motion video recording.

@PandaFlashPro also claims that storage will remain unchanged, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations set to be offered, and all of these are said to come with 16GB of RAM, while in the case of the Galaxy S25 Ultra they come with 12GB.

Other listed specs include a 20% larger vapor chamber, and the return of a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging. As with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra it’s also said to support Qi2 magnetic wireless charging – but only with the addition of a magnetic case.

But with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra not likely to land until early next year, we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, as it’s still very early for leaks and rumors. Before that though, we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, both of which will probably land on July 9.

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• Oracle will offer the US government 75% off certain software packages
• It will also offer "substantial" cloud service discounts
• The company has close ties with the government

Oracle is reportedly offering the US federal government a huge 75% discount on license-based software and further "substantial" discounts on cloud services until November.

The news, reported by Wall Street Journal, follows several weeks of discounts by tech giants trying to win big government bids, in response to cost-cutting efforts driving by the Musk-founded Department of Government Efficiency.

However, this marks the first deal to offer a government-wide discount on cloud infrastructure, including data storage, computing and networking, according to the report.

Oracle discounts to the US government

As part of the cost-cutting initiative, the General Services Administration aims to use government-wide purchasing power to negotiate better tech deals, removing siloes and cutting out middlemen to drive the biggest savings.

Salesforce has already offered the US government a staggering 90% discount on Slack, while Google and Adobe also form part of a growing list of tech companies dropping prices.

Besides reducing costs, the US government is also undergoing a pretty big transformation to modernize outdated IT systems.

With the US government already working closely with Oracle, the 75% software discount and further cloud discounts could secure a large chunk of revenue for the Texas-based tech giant. It recently launched a new program to help smaller vendors sell to the Defense Department, and is also a major partner for OpenAI's Project Stargate which aims to expand AI infrastructure across the US.

Oracle CEO Safra Catz explained: "We remain steadfast in our commitment to the US government and are thrilled to work with the GSA to help every department and agency modernize their technology and gain the benefits of Oracle Cloud and AI."

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum welcomed the discounts, adding that transparency around tech acquisition could tackle "waste, fraud and cost takeout."

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• The EU has published a database of smartphone battery life
• It suggests Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra offers excellent battery longevity
• There are plenty of other interesting revelations found in the data

If you’re looking for the phone with the best battery life overs its lifetime, the European Union (EU) has just made your job a little easier. That’s because it has published a database of battery ratings (via Android Authority) for a huge number of the best smartphones, and there are some fascinating revelations buried within.

Searching through the EU’s new European Product Registry for Energy Labelling database isn’t particularly straightforward – you need a phone’s model identifier number rather than just typing in something like “Google Pixel 9a” – but once you’ve got that, you can get info on battery life, ingress protection, drop resistance, and more.

That makes it a useful way to put phones up against each other and see which has an advantage. For instance, in the eternal battle between Samsung and Apple, we’ve compared the battery ratings of the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here, something interesting emerges: the S25 Ultra is rated for twice as many battery charge cycles as the iPhone.

Specifically, the EU reckons the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is rated for 2,000 charge cycles, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max sits at 1,000 cycles. That would appear to give Samsung a significant win in the battery department, on paper.

However, it’s not quite as clear cut as that. The S25 Ultra’s “battery endurance per cycle” rating sits at a hair under 45 hours, which the EU says means “how long a smartphone's battery lasts from a full charge to when it needs to be recharged again.”

For the iPhone 16 Pro Max, its battery endurance per cycle is higher at 48 hours. So, the iPhone might last a little longer per charge, but the S25 Ultra is rated for more charge cycles in total.

Comparing the best smartphones

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

What about the charge cycles of other popular phones? We’ve found the database entries for the top devices in our list of the best smartphones and entered them into the chart above for easy comparison.

Looking at the data, it’s clear that the OnePlus 13 offers by far the longest charge per cycle at 61 hours and 36 minutes. The iPhone 16 Pro, meanwhile, is bottom of the pack at 37 hours. But both phones are rated for 1,000 charge cycles.

The total number of charge cycles isn't an estimate of how many a phone's battery can take before it dies, but rather the number of complete charges until you start to see degradation in its performance. So the figures above aren't necessarily an estimate of a phone's overall life cycle.

How do we know how reliable all of this is? The information is almost certainly self-reported, which – you would think – could lead to dodgy scenarios and an incentive to fudge the numbers. There might be some reliability, though, as the EU has set out regulations on how battery endurance should be measured. Providing those are being adhered to, we can put a little trust in the numbers, although we can’t be 100% certain.

Besides needing to take these figures with a healthy degree of skepticism, there’s also much more that goes into deciding which phone to buy than just looking at its battery capabilities. You need to consider its chip, cameras, software, durability, and much more. But if you prize battery life over a phone's lifetime above all else, the EU’s database could be a helpful resource indeed.

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• Louis Vuitton Korea confirms cyberattack and data theft
• No financial data was taken
• Luxury fashion brands are being actively targeted these days

Cybercriminals broke into the Korean subsidiary of luxury brand Louis Vuitton and stole sensitive files, the company has confirmed.

"We regret to inform that an unauthorized third party temporarily accessed our system resulting in the leak of some customer information," the company allegedly said in a statement published on its local website.

The company notified government authorities, and moved to secure its infrastructure and data, confirming some information was taken in the breach, but financial files were not among them.

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Scattered Spider's fingerprints

Other details of the attack are scarce - we don’t know when the attack happened, how the miscreants breached the company, or what they were looking to achieve. We also don’t know if they demanded any ransom in exchange for the stolen files, or if an encryptor was deployed.

However, we do see a pattern in cybercriminals targeting major luxury brands. In early June 2025, French luxury brand Cartier warned customers some of their sensitive personal information was stolen in a data breach.

Two weeks prior, in mid-May 2025, Dior experienced the same thing, after finding an unauthorized third party accessing some of the data it holds for Dior Fashion and Accessories customers. Around the same time, Victoria’s Secret, another major fashion brand, filed a new form with the US SEC confirming restoring systems after a breach.

Although unconfirmed in most cases, there were some reports attributing all three of these to Scattered Spider - a loosely tied organization of cybercriminals known for targeting specific industries at any one time. The FBI recently warned about Scattered Spider shifting focus towards US retailers. Although most of these are not US companies, they are major retail brands and as such are likely targets for Scattered Spider.

Via Reuters

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I wear my Bose QuietComfort headphones so often that I'm not sure why I still waste time picking out pretty earrings in the mornings. They’re a little on the expensive side at their full price of $359 / £349, but they pay it back in the form of fantastic ANC and great sound, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a nice price drop this Prime Day.

Last year Amazon US knocked a massive 45% off the list price, taking the Bose QuietComfort headphones down to just $199, which is the cheapest they’ve ever been, so we're hoping they'll go even lower this year. In the UK, they dropped as low as £259 last Prime Day, and we're already seeing them on sale for £249 this year, so again we'll be looking out for even cheaper deals when Prime Day officially gets underway.

True to their name, the QuietComforts are super-comfy to wear, and continue to be a great fit despite my petite size, which has proven a disadvantage with some other headphones. Bose seems to have gotten the ear cup padding just right with the QuietComforts, ensuring that they feel good to wear without overdoing it and compromising the seal, which is something I’ve experienced with cheaper alternatives, where excessive padding has affected the fit, leading to gaps, and a rush of ambient noise when I turned my head.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve found I get a great seal with the QuietComforts thanks to the snug design, so there’s barely any sound leakage, which enhances the already good ANC performance. These headphones do a great job of cutting out the loud rumblings of trains and buses on journeys, and dampening down ambient sounds in louder environments, so they’ve been a real game-changer for me on commutes.

While the large push-button controls may be a little old-school for some, I’m a big fan of the controls on the QuietComforts. I often find touch controls on audio headwear to be hit and miss (literally), but the push buttons on my Bose mean I can locate the button I need quickly. I also appreciate the slider format of the power switch, as it makes it really easy to turn them on and off on the go.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of sound, I'm really happy with the balance even without fiddling with the EQ settings, so I’ve had no problems when swapping from podcasts to power ballads. There’s a fantastic level of depth and detail when playing instrumentals like All This Time by From Somewhere Quiet and Adam Dodson, and listening to songs like Smoke by Willyecho is particularly enjoyable, as the QuietComforts are well-versed in delivering deliciously dynamic beats and booming bass without sacrificing vocal clarity.

(Image credit: Future)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may have overtaken the standard QuietComforts as one of the best noise-canceling headphones, but having tried out both pairs, I’m actually happy to compromise on the sound quality for these best budget Bose headphones, especially when the ANC performance is pretty similar, and I find the simple button controls on my QuietComforts much easier to use.

I really adore these headphones, and though I may occasionally find myself lusting after prettier alternatives, they just haven’t compared to my trusty Bose. Before you buy, I’d recommend reading through our full Bose QuietComfort headphones review for the full run-down, and holding fire until Prime Day, just in case there’s another big discount on the way.

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• Some Pixel owners are reporting Android 16 lock-screen issues
• They say the screen can be laggy and unresponsive
• So far, Google hasn't issued any official advice about the issue

The official Android 16 rollout got underway last month, with the best Pixel phones first in line for the update – but it appears that the software is causing lock-screen issues for a significant number of Pixel owners.

A variety of problems have been reported, as per 9to5Google. These include the lock screen not waking up when tapped, and not responding to a press of the power button, as well as fingerprint ID issues and extreme variations in brightness.

"I've been experiencing a significant and frustrating delay when trying to wake my phone," writes one user on the Pixel Phone Help forums. "I often have to press multiple times before the phone finally reacts. This issue is occurring one to two times daily."

For that particular user, there was a fix: booting into Safe Mode (see here) and then rebooting normally. If you're experiencing something similar then that fix is worth a try – but even with a possible workaround available, it's not something Google will be pleased to see.

Trouble waking up

Android 16 launched in June (Image credit: Google)

"Has anyone else noticed issues where the screen does not wake up when tapping the screen or trying to use lift to wake?" asks another user on Reddit. "Also pressing the power button has a long delay waking up the screen."

That user reports that their issues are with a Pixel 9 Pro XL, and that the problem has been logged with Google. If you are having difficulties with Android 16, the Google Help portal is a good starting point for getting some assistance.

As yet, Google hasn't said anything officially about the issues – perhaps because the bugs being reported are so numerous and so varied. The types of problems being mentioned are the sort that could well be fixed with a future Android 16 software update.

It's tricky to assess how widespread these issues are right now – they're definitely affecting some Pixel users, but not all Pixel users. Even if only a small number of people are hit though, it's disappointing that we're still seeing bugs like this after several months of beta testing.

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• Amazon Prime users are being hit with fake renewal emails designed to steal login details
• Clicking fake “cancel” links could expose your banking info to professional online fraudsters
• Scammers are mimicking Amazon to trick shoppers before the four-day global Prime Day event

With Amazon Prime Day upon us, and set to run in twenty-six countries, the company is urging customers to be wary of a growing wave of cyber scams.

The company has sent out emails informing the over 200 million Prime members it has seen a sharp rise in fraudulent activity, especially impersonation attempts using fake emails, texts, and calls, ahead of the event.

These scams often target unsuspecting users with misleading claims about their Amazon Prime membership or account security, attempting to extract sensitive data or login details.

Phishing scams use fear tactics to defraud unsuspecting victims

Sample of a fake email (Image credit: Avast)How to spot a fake email

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Fake emails often try to trick you into revealing personal details - look out for tell-tale signs such as:

• Starting with generic greetings such as “Dear customer”
• Using urgent or threatening language to pressure for quick action
• Coming from strange or misspelled email addresses
• Suspicious links or unexpected attachments
• Typos or poor formatting throughout
• Asking for passwords or financial information
• Being sent from unknown or unofficial sources

Amazon says Prime members are being targeted by emails which falsely claim their subscriptions are about to renew at a new price.

These emails sometimes contain personal information and may include a "cancel subscription" button that redirects to a fake login page.

"We've recently noticed an increase in customers reporting fake emails about Amazon Prime membership subscriptions," Amazon said in an email to Prime members.

The aim is to trick users into revealing login credentials or banking information.

Amazon warns clicking on links in these fake emails can lead to compromised accounts and stolen payment details.

The company says such activity is not limited to email, as between February and March 2025, Amazon recorded a 71 percent surge in scam phone calls in the UK alone.

Impersonators typically warn users about false order issues or claim urgent action is needed.

“Scammers rely on urgency and fear,” Amazon explained, noting they often pretend accounts will be locked or charged unless immediate steps are taken.

In one notable case from Prime Day 2024, there was an 80 percent spike in impersonation scams in the US, a trend that is already repeating this year.

Although Amazon fights these scammers, and says it shut down over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 fake phone numbers in 2024 alone, the volume of new threats remains high.

The company says that 94% of impersonation scams globally arrive via email, text, or phone.

In a March 2025 update, Amazon also revealed social media scams had risen by 33 percent since December 2024, as fraudsters responded to customer complaints using counterfeit profiles.

How to stay safe

To avoid falling for scams, always access Amazon through the official app or by typing the website address directly into your browser.

Check the Message Center in your account for real messages, and enable two-factor authentication to block unauthorized access.

Never reuse passwords across sites, as stolen credentials can be used elsewhere.

Be cautious with messages that demand quick action, and think before clicking any link.

Confirm that items are “Shipped and sold by Amazon” for stronger protection.

If you mistakenly click on any suspicious link, monitor your debit or credit card closely for any unauthorized transactions and report the same to your bank.

The best antivirus helps to detect phishing attempts, while the best malware protection blocks data theft and can help you stay safe in this shopping season.

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