TechRadar News

• The first teaser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been released
• It celebrates the first day of filming on the Marvel-Sony superhero movie
• Tom Holland's new superhero suit is teased rather than being fully revealed

Marvel and Sony have released the first official teaser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day – but, calm down, everyone, it's not as great as it sounds.

With filming on Spider-Man: Brand New Day officially underway starting today (August 1), the two studios, who work together on Spider-Man films, celebrated day one of said shoot with a all-too-brief look at the new suit that Tom Holland's eponymous hero will wear. However, save for one particularly interesting detail, the eight-second video – hey, I said it was brief! – is nothing to write home about.

Yep, that's it. A dark albeit mysteriously brief glimpse at the wallcrawler's latest super-suit. It's not even accompanied by a "now in production" message that tells more casual Spider-Man fans that the cameras are rolling on his next big-screen adventure. Sigh.

Still, as I alluded to earlier, there is something quite striking about the suit Holland's Peter Parker will be wearing in the Marvel Phase 6 movie.

Until now, all of his suits – aside from his homemade one, which Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark made fun of when Spidey made his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Captain America: Civil War – have been sleek looking.

The webbing on Parker's new attire, though, appears to be slightly raised from the rest of the fabric. It's most notable at the 0:02 mark and suggests that Holland's Parker might have taken some costume inspiration from Tobey Maguire's webslinger. Remember, the pair met and worked together – along with Andrew Garfield's take on the iconic character – in the multiversal flick Spider-Man: No Way Home. Maybe Holland's iteration got some pointers from Maguire's Parker about suit designs and decided a nostalgia look was the best way to go?

Anybody else think that Tom Holland's new suit looks like Tober Maguire's Spider-Man outfit? (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Of course, this raises questions about what happened to the suit we saw the titular character wearing in No Way Home's final scene? Well, if you believe recent online rumors about where Spider-Man: Brand New Day sits on the MCU timeline, three years may have passed between Holland's last outing as Spidey and the hero's fourth solo MCU film. It's possible, then, that he's simply updated the look of his suit in the years since we last saw him. Alternatively, maybe he's decided to give Daredevil a run for his money and have a whole wardrobe of different suits...

Anyway, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is due out in theaters on July 31, 2026, so it's high time principal photography began on the highly anticipated flick. Hopefully, we'll get some behind the scenes images and/or on-set leaks of Holland's new garb as filming progresses on Spider-Man 4. Until then, read the section below for even more of my coverage on it.

You might also like

• New Marvel report about its X-Men movie reboot might have dispelled a big cast rumor about Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day behind the scenes look appears to confirm two of the Marvel movie's villains – and a possible Venom cameo
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day reportedly set to feature one of the first Avengers in a big role, but I hope it's not true for two huge reasons

During an Executive Briefing session for the board members of a luxury brand last year, one question kept popping up – when will we reach singularity? I designed Executive Briefing sessions to inspire and educate senior executives and board members on the latest disruptive trends and how exponential technologies create opportunities for business and revenue generation.

So, it was not a surprise when these questions arose, as it was the hype of the moment and congesting the media coverage of artificial intelligence (AI). However, this is not the right question to ask, particularly considering companies, and the board members taking part in the session, may not even be around when humanity has to reckon with artificial general intelligence (AGI) – systems with human-like cognitive capabilities to generalize knowledge, learn new things, and adapt to various situations.

What is intelligence, really?

Before delving into the possibilities of AGI, it would be prudent to first explore the meaning of intelligence in the human context. In my new book, Artificial Intelligence For Business, I delve into the depths of intelligence and its definition, a topic of debate even among experts . Whether we approach it from a psychological or physiological perspective, the understanding and definition of human intelligence remains challenging because of one fundamental variable – the human subject.

Intelligence goes beyond information processing, reasoning and problem-solving. It is the ability to reason, learn from experience, adapt to new situations, and make sense of abstract concepts. More importantly, human intelligence is also guided by our biases, experiences, cultural backgrounds, beliefs, creativity, emotional awareness, and our ability to navigate social dynamics.

These are not just mental capabilities, but are embodied and relational. Our decisions are impacted by goals, value, ethics and intuition formed through lived experiences, making intelligence a complex element that is difficult to define and replicate.

Replicating human intelligence

In its current form, artificial intelligence in the most advanced systems, such as large language models or computer vision tools, are common examples of Narrow AI. These are AI systems created to carry out tasks with a high degree of efficiency and operates within predefined rules. It lacks the understanding and adaptability that humans possess. Narrow AI are trained on vast datasets to recognize patterns and generate predictions, but in my view, these systems do not ‘’understand’’ the way humans do.

Intelligent systems do not form context, nor do they possess common sense or emotional insight. It operates based on statistical probabilities and optimizes outputs within boundaries set by the data it is trained on. It simulates intelligence, quickly enough to trick us into believing it is intelligent, but these systems do not experience intelligence. Even the most powerful systems that exist today are simply tools - albeit impressive tools - but are not fully aware of the outputs, goals and implications they create.

So, what is Artificial General Intelligence?

Also referred to as Strong AI, AGI represents the pinnacle of artificial intelligence research. AGI can understand and learn intellectual tasks much like a human being and enables machines to apply knowledge and skills across different contexts. This means solving unfamiliar problems without any prior training, transferring knowledge between domains, reasoning in abstract terms, and continuously adapting.

AGI would be able to write a novel, design a marketing campaign, solve an engineering problem, and give emotional advice, all with the nuance and adaptability of a human. It would be capable of reflection, strategy, and perhaps even self-directed learning. In theory, it could outperform humans at virtually any intellectual task. Although we may believe many of the existing systems today offer these capabilities, what we are experiencing is the incredible speed of processing vast data, uncovering patterns in the data, and producing commonly accepted outputs to respond to requests. True AGI would be able to perform any intellectual tasks that a human can, equipped with understanding and reasoning required to navigate a range of different challenges.

The value of AGI can be truly transformative for humanity, and it is no wonder technology leaders seem to be in constant pursuit of this next frontier. It holds a promise of exponential development across industries, and the potential return on investment so enormous, that every technology company wants to hold the key to AGI. But the uncertainty and risks that come with such systems can also be unimaginable.

Why race towards AGI?

At the center of AGI is a potent mix of fear, uncertainty, economic potential, ambition and ideology. The promise of AGI is not just another technological milestone, it could be considered a foundational shift that could unlock solutions to humanity’s most urgent challenges and the potential rewards are staggering. AGI supporters view it as a potential force multiplier, able to accelerate scientific discovery, optimise resource distribution, and address climate risks.

Commercial incentives are also compelling. The institution or organization controlling AGI would dominate not only other industries, but also redefine how value is created and destroy its competition in the global market. From a geopolitical dimension, AGI is viewed as a strategic asset and weapon of mass disruption that could set global standards, lead in defense innovation, and control critical infrastructure. Additionally, there is an ideological aspect to consider. Selected leaders in the global technology community genuinely believe AGI could elevate humanity for the better, while others are driven by personal gain and legacy.

The race towards AGI

From a psychological and societal perspective, AGI forces us to confront the fundamental question of what it means to be human. Can we create machines or systems that can rival our own mind? Can we replicate, and potentially even surpass, the very thing that makes us human? And if machines can learn, create and think like us, what would our role be in this new ecosystem? How could we aspire to govern such systems to ensure human dignity, purpose and autonomy are fully retained? This is a formidable challenge, and in my view, unrealistic in the near future.

For senior leaders and board members contemplating these questions, my advice is to focus on the more pressing question of how current and rapidly-developing AI solutions are impacting industries and businesses. This, in itself, is a reality that is transforming the world as we know it.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

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

• Microsoft Edge has dropped a chunk of users in the past month
• This is according to Statcounter's figures, which show Chrome making some major gains at the top
• Microsoft may hope that Copilot in Edge will help turn things around, but there are other factors at work

Chrome has cemented its dominance in the web browser world in the past month to the detriment of Microsoft Edge, which has slipped back in its tall order quest to challenge Google's top dog.

Neowin flagged up the latest report from Statcounter showing how the world's best desktop browsers stack up to each other, and Chrome has accelerated ahead in July, gaining just over 3% to put it a whisker away from a 70% share of the entire market (69.98% to be precise).

Microsoft Edge is in second place, but after making a little headway through 2025 thus far – in between periods of stalling – the browser has again slipped, as it did in June. It's now down to 11.8% which represents a month-on-month drop of 1.26%.

If you're wondering about the rest of Chrome's rivals, there's Safari, which is in third place, but it barely has half of Edge's user base, with the Apple browser sitting on 6.51% (also down from last month; in fact, it's lost 0.85%).

Firefox is next and is close behind Safari on 5.32%, and again, that's a loss, this time of half a percentage point. All of those losses have, of course, provided fuel for Google's Chrome fire.

Analysis: Copilot isn't the answer - or at least not the only one

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Naturally, we need to take any single source that's measuring the popularity of any given set of products with some caution - it represents a sample of the market, not the entire picture. Although in Statcounter's case, it's a pretty beefy sample, and the company is regarded as one of the more accurate judges of how the browser world stands.

Microsoft isn't doing well, then, in its bid to get Edge noticed - and as I've said before, I think part of the problem the software giant has is that it's trying too hard to get the browser noticed. It does this mainly by shoving it in the faces of Windows 11 (and 10) users with too much gusto, recommending it as the default browser in certain circumstances, or having Edge pop up in various ways even though it isn't set as the default browser.

Notably, Microsoft has been changing this kind of behavior in Europe due to regulatory pressures, so, for example, the company just made it so that web links in Windows 11's widget board now don't open in Edge automatically, but use the selected default browser in the OS (as they should for a consistent experience).

I wish Microsoft would adopt this scheme of things in other regions outside of Europe, but sadly, it doesn't seem like this will happen, not when there's no legislation twisting the company's arm.

Microsoft has another tactic in mind to get traction for Edge, though, and that's AI. The introduction of Copilot in Edge has just happened (so won't have made an impact in July's figures from Statcounter), and while it may not seem like a massive carrot to many – who might think, 'Not more AI', complete with a yawn – as we've recently reported, this feature actually looks pretty nifty. It offers voice commands and some clever touches like being able to instruct the browser to skip to a certain section of a YouTube video, and with agentic AI abilities promised down the line (the ability for AI to book things for you within the browser, for example).

I accept that it could be a promising lure for new recruits to the Edge flock. However, I think Microsoft will struggle to make its browser more relevant unless it also reins in some of the excesses of its constant promotion of Edge within Windows. And of course, don't forget that Google has its own AI (Gemini) tricks in the pipeline for Chrome, too, so it's not like the dominant competition will be standing still on the AI front.

You might also like

• Windows 10 might be at death’s door, but Microsoft hasn’t finished trying to force Bing and Edge on its users
• I’ve tried the Opera Air browser – here are 3 features that have already convinced me to ditch Chrome
• How to use Microsoft Edge

It's time to settle down and enjoy one or more of the new movies and TV shows that have landed on the best streaming services over the past few days.

All but one of the world's leading streamers have got something to offer this weekend – step it up, Paramount+ – so, regardless of which platform(s) you're signed up, you're well and truly spoiled when it comes to new content to watch at home. Warm up your scrolling finger, then, and read on to see what you can enjoy before Monday comes back around. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

My Oxford Year (Netflix)

Remember how One Day suddenly arrived on Netflix and instantly made us bawl our eyes out? I've got a funny feeling that My Oxford Year is going to have exactly the same effect.

One of August's new Netflix movies tells the story of ambitious American student travels to Oxford in England to fulfil her dream, but encounters a charming local who changes both their lives. I wonder if that local just happens to be tall, dark, and handsome?

Given this is also an adaptation of Julia Whelan's novel, we can pretty much guarantee My Oxford Year is going to be a slam dunk for the streamer. Cue a lot of rose-tinted whimsy, an influx of Americans on social media who think all of England is like Notting Hill, and bundles of sweet nerdy chemistry. Frankly, it's cheaper than trying to study abroad. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment writer

• Watch My Oxford Year on Netflix

Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+)

The latest Marvel project to have Ryan Coogler's award-winning creative fingerprints on it, Eyes of Wakanda has launched on Disney+ three weeks earlier than anyone expected.

A four-part anthology series that further explores the history of Wakanda, aka the technologically advanced African nation that exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this Black Panther spin-off series follows various Wakanda spy-cum-warriors across four time periods as they try to recover their nation's stolen artefacts and weaponry. Eyes of Wakanda is available in full now on Disney+, too, so you won't be made to wait a week between each 30-minute installment.

It remains to be seen if it'll earn a spot on our best Disney+ shows list. But, with Coogler attached, I'd be shocked if this gorgeous-looking animated series doesn't continue Marvel's recent hot-streak (in my opinion, anyway) on the big and small screens. – TP

• Watch Eyes of Wakanda on Disney+

Final Destination: Bloodlines (HBO Max)

I'm really enjoying these new horror installments with great reviews, aren't you? Saw X impressed the critics after years of flops and Final Destination Bloodlines, the franchise's sixth movie, did likewise earlier this year. So much so, it's now technically considered the best in the franchise.

Thankfully, the series' latest entry is now streaming on HBO Max. Get ready to be scared by, well, just about any everyday object as the franchise continues to kill its subjects in the most unexpected ways. If you want something to satisfy your bloodlust this weekend, look no further. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Final Destination: Bloodlines on HBO Max

Chief of War (Apple TV+)

I’ve always felt there aren’t nearly enough TV shows that dive into Hawaiian history, which is why I’m so glad Apple TV+ has finally stepped up.

Chief of War is a new historical drama that puts the spotlight on the Polynesian islands' powerful chiefdoms before colonization reshaped everything at the turn of the 18th century. Jason Momoa plays Ka‘iana, a warrior chief determined to unite the four Hawaiian kingdoms as Western forces loom. It's based on real events and as visually stunning as it is culturally rich.

The first two episodes are streaming now, with new episodes dropping every Friday until the finale on September 19. I’ve already got this lined up on my watchlist – and if you’re even a little curious, I’d recommend diving into this new Apple TV Original – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Chief of War on Apple TV+

Twisted Metal season 2 (Peacock)

Twisted Metal is back Peacock so, if you're in the mood for plenty of laughs and action, it's the show to watch. With a stellar cast including Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz and Captain America's Anthony Mackie leading the series, plus Will Arnett as a killer clown, there's so much to love about Twisted Metal.

If you haven't seen season 1, it's based on its video game namesake and follows a talkative milkman with amnesia who's tasked with delivering a mysterious package in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Things are quickly dialed up to 100, too. – LB

• Watch Twisted Metal season 2 on Peacock

Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful (Hulu/Disney+)

First there was Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie, then came Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé. Now, it's Miley's turn to shine, with her own music movie Something Beautiful being self-described as a "pop opera", and is now out on Hulu and Disney+. Think less Starlight Express and more chic visual movie, which is essentially a continuous music video for every track on the synonymous album.

Essentially, this one is great for singing along to the Bangerz (see what I did there?) you might have missed from Cyrus in the last year, who's been busy rebranding herself as the pop-rock icon we're learning to love all over again. Rumor has it that if you then stream the album on Spotify, you might allegedly be invited to a Hannah Montana-themed event (this isn't confirmed, but dare to dream). – JV

• Watch Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues (Prime Video)

I love a good underdog story – and Birmingham City FC’s 2024/25 season is exactly that. Like Wrexham, Birmingham has seen a huge surge in performance, popularity, and sponsorship since American-Hollywood investors came onboard – and now you can watch it all play out in Built In Birmingham: Brady & The Blues on Amazon's streaming platform..

The docuseries tracks the club’s transformation under NFL legend Tom Brady, who became a minority owner in 2023. From the heartbreak of relegation to a record-breaking season, and automatic promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship, it’s a rollercoaster worth streaming. All five episodes are now available on Prime Video. If you’re into comeback stories, this one’s a must-watch. – AS

• Watch Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues on Prime Video

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix shows, best Prime Video movies, best Hulu shows, and best Paramount+ movies.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #1285).

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 #1286) - 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 #1286) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1286) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1286) - 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 0.

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 #1286) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• P

• C

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1286) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1286, are…

• WARTY
• PUPAL
• CLEAR
• SLICE

Today was a struggle, but my winning streak continues.

Knowing that the top-left word ended A-R-T-Y and having eliminated the word beginning with a T or a P, I had two possibilities left – one starting with W the other with F. Being sensible I chose WARTY, but the alternative was very tempting. 

Daily Sequence today (game #1286) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1286, are…

• ANIME
• FRUIT
• START
• DECRY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY

• Chevrolet has teased the next generation of its popular Bolt EV model
• The vehicle isn’t expected to arrive until 2027
• Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are struggling with sales

Chevrolet has taken to social media to release a number of teaser images that give some hints of what the North American public can expect of its redesigned Bolt.

The much-loved Bolt was among the first mass-produced electric vehicles to take off in the States, with early models praised for their impressive electric range, ease of use, masses of practicality and comparatively low sticker price. As a used proposition, they also represent phenomenal value for money.

That said, the Bolt could only ever manage to charge at a maximum speed of 54kW, which made longer journeys difficult. Chevy seems to have addressed this in the upcoming, 2027 version, which will be among the first General Motors vehicles to sport a NACS charging port as standard.

A post shared by chevrolet (@chevrolet)

A photo posted by on

The teaser images also reveal a sportier front fascia, redesigned taillights (a topic that bothered former owners) and a striking new alloy wheel design, with the brand stating that more details will be revealed this fall.

Back in late 2016, the original Bolt could be picked up for just under $27,000 before federal and state electric vehicle incentives, which made it one of the cheapest ways to get behind the wheel on a new EV in the USA. It is predicted that General Motors will attempt to keep prices of the new model similarly low.

Analysis: The US needs more affordable EVs

(Image credit: Chevrolet)

The news comes at a time when several other big name automakers have publicly stated that sales have been slow in North America.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has reportedly started slashing prices of its EVs to boost customer demand and will even pause deliveries of some of its EQ range to prevent dealer inventory from piling up.

Porsche has also scaled back its financial forecasts due to its exposure to President Trump’s raft of recent trade tariffs, seeing as the company exclusively manufactures its cars in Germany and ships them overseas.


The upcoming Chevrolet Bolt comes at a time when the US market desperately needs more affordable EV options, seeing as Tesla could underwhelm with its much-rumored cut-price model and the cheaper Chinese competition is yet to gain a foothold in the region.

Nissan's Leaf remains among the cheapest, but that is also due an imminent refresh, while Hyundai's small Kona Electric has also proven popular thanks to its approachable price tag.

However, many of the closest rivals still cost around $40,000, which for many buyers, is still too much.

you might also like

• Forget the Cybertruck! The Silverado EV is the ultimate electric road-trip machine
• Apple CarPlay Ultra looks dead on arrival as another automotive giant distances itself – here's what needs to change
• Refreshed EVs are the best EVs: how rapid updates are redefining car ownership

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #516).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Pretty as a picture

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MATTER
• FORT
• RULER
• JADE
• REST
• LIAR

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #517) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #517, are…

• FILTER
• CROP
• BLUR
• ADJUST
• ERASE
• MARKUP
• ROTATE
• SPANGRAM: PHOTO EDITOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The very first thing I saw in today’s grid was the word PHOTO, but when it didn’t turn blue I thought we must be looking for some other art-based topic. Then I saw the word EDITOR and put the pair of words together and landed today’s spangram.

From here it was a matter of thinking of as many photo-editing words as I could and then finding them on the board. FILTER and CROP came first, as they are my two most-used tools.

All of this has reminded me that, being something of a fat-fingered snapper, the key thing I need to do with my photo library on my phone is to delete all the many shots I have of the floor, my hand or the inside of my pockets. No amount of photo editing can fix them.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, August 1, game #516)

• ADDER
• PYTHON
• COBRA
• MAMBA
• VIPER
• ANACONDA
• RATTLER
• SPANGRAM: SERPENT

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 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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #782).

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 #783) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COMMERCE
• STRIKE
• CLEAVE
• FOUL
• ADHERE
• CONGRESS
• SPLIT
• STICK
• OVERSIGHT
• GLUE
• GARNISH
• RELATIONS
• SANCTION
• INTIMACY
• AFFIX
• SPARE

NYT Connections today (game #783) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Bind two things together 
• BLUE: Ten pin scoring
• GREEN: Birds and bees activity 
• PURPLE: Double meaning

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 #783) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ATTACH WITH ADHESIVE 
• BLUE: BOWLING RESULTS
• GREEN: POLITE TERMS FOR SEX 
• PURPLE: CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS)

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

NYT Connections today (game #783) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #783, are…

• YELLOW: ATTACH WITH ADHESIVE ADHERE, AFFIX, GLUE, STICK
• BLUE: BOWLING RESULTS FOUL, SPARE, SPLIT, STRIKE
• GREEN: POLITE TERMS FOR SEX COMMERCE, CONGRESS, INTIMACY, RELATIONS
• PURPLE: CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS) CLEAVE, GARNISH, OVERSIGHT, SANCTION

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

The NYT didn’t use the most obvious CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS) today, in my opinion at least.

Two good ones would have been “buckle” and “fast”, which would have certainly put me in doubts over whether they belonged in the group that was about attachments.

Anyway, all of this is to mask my embarrassment over taking three guesses to get POLITE TERMS FOR SEX.

I thought that this group had something to do with international trade, so I tried including SANCTION and OVERSIGHT before swapping them out for INTIMACY.

Please tell me I wasn’t the only person that didn’t see this group!

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, August 1, game #782)

• YELLOW: APTITUDE BENT, FACULTY, FLAIR, GIFT
• GREEN: SILENT "W" PLAYWRIGHT, SWORD, WRAP, WREATH
• BLUE: LEGENDS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD DEAN, GABLE, GARLAND, TEMPLE
• PURPLE: HIT THE ____ HAY, JACKPOT, ROAD, ROOF

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.

• Makes changes to your website using natural language
• SEO optimize your site
• Woo-commerce ready

I like WordPress. I do! What's not to like? It's free, it's used by basically everyone so there's so much help available, and it's supported by all the best web hosting providers. There is just one thing about it that I, and others, find incredibly frustrating. The page builder.

Now, thanks to Hostinger, those pains will hopefully be over because Kodee, Hostinger's AI management tool, is going to be released with direct integration with your WordPress site.

Knock Knock. Who's that? It's Kodee helping you with WordPress

I've built WordPress sites before but I'm not a website building expert covering the best website builders like my colleague Owain Williams. My area is more website infrastructure (hosting, domains, that sort of stuff) but I do occasionally have a dabble in WordPress because I want to know more about it when recommending the best WordPress hosting.

In my most recent dives into WordPress for my one hour with series, covering what it's like to buy and set up a website with web hosting providers I encountered many beginner WordPress issues after I had purchased and set up a server.

• Hostinger in 60 minutes: Learn from these rookie mistakes
• Dreamhost in 60 minutes: slow server installs but neat business features
• Kinsta in 60 minutes: Is this host good for your agency?

The issue I mostly encountered was working my way around the WordPress block editor Gutenberg. Any time I wanted to remove a button from a template, modify a title, or change how a page element appeared I found myself spending 15 minutes trying to locate a button and then another ten undoing all the mess that pressing that button achieved.

Kodee promises to relieve users of these frustrations as soon WordPress users should be able to modify and edit a page just by asking Kodee to do it for them.

Kodee is not quite ready yet

(Image credit: Future)

Earlier in the year Kodee was released to be used as an AI sysadmin tool for VPS servers helping users manage their environment with natural language. For WordPress management Kodee is expected to be released in August.

When it is released Kodee will be able to add pages and posts, edit the text and layout of a page including adding new sections, replace images and content, plus manage settings, plugins, and many other site tasks.

Available on Hostinger Business and Cloud hosting plans

Kodee won't be available on Hostingers lower-end plans such as the single site plan (not available in all regions) and the Premium hosting plan. This means that you'll need to pay at least an extra 0.78$/mo for the first 38 months and then and extra 3$ a month after to use the tool if you didn't intend on buying one of the more powerful plans.

In my opinion, that's a worthy investment if like me, you're not very page builder savvy.

You might also like

• Read about my time at the WordCamp Europe event
• My list of the best managed WordPress hosting providers
• Learn more about WordPress hosting

Amazon MGM Studios have announced who will pen the next Bond movie, and it’s a hugely exciting proposition.

With Denis Villeneuve already set to take the director’s chair, it’s been confirmed that the script will be written by Steven Knight, the man behind Peaky Blinders, A Thousand Blows, This Town and more.

A Knight-penned Bond adventure is massively exciting, although it's worth remembering that the film is still in the very early stages – in fact we’re still waiting on the announcement on who will be donning the tuxedo in the next Bond adventure following Daniel Craig’s retirement in No Time to Die.

Bond 26: The story so far

(Image credit: MGM)

Even so, it’s great to see the franchise making positive moves forward following a tumultuous decade for 007. While Craig’s era got off to a good start with new adventures landing every few years, the departure of director Danny Boyle from the film that would go on to become No Time to Die, followed by a pandemic-induced release delay meant it was almost six years before Craig’s final mission landed in cinemas. Since then, Amazon purchased Bond’s parent studio MGM and quickly produced Road to a Million, a gameshow inspired by 007’s globe-trotting adventures.

Talk of a new film was few and far between though, with rumors surrounding cinematic universes and TV spin-offs quickly dispelled by long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. However, all that changed when in January of this year Broccoli announced that her and Wilson were stepping away from the franchise and handing full creative control to Amazon. While there was speculation that the pair had been ousted due to Amazon’s frustration with them dragging their feet on a new project, the official statement from Broccoli read: "With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects."

Following the pair’s departure, and after a few months of getting their Aston Martin in order, Amazon confirmed a 26th Bond film was starting pre-production, with Dune helmer Denis Villeneuve attached to direct and Amy Pascal set to produce alongside Harry Potter’s David Heyman.

What should we expect from Bond 26?

(Image credit: Amazon)

While we currently know nothing of what to expect from 007’s next mission, Knight’s appointment could potentially point toward a long-speculated return to the 1960s for the franchise, with the writer almost exclusively penning period pieces in recent years, with Knight’s rollicking WW2 action adventure SAS: Rogue Heroes of particular note to those wondering what his interpretation of Bond might look like.

"I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder," Knight told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on August 1, according to The HollyWood Reporter.

Despite all the recent announcements however, we’re still waiting on the big one: who will be the next James Bond? While some fan favorite choices such as Idris Elba and Dan Stevens have essentially aged out of the role in the intervening years, speculation is still rife, with the likes of James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Regé-Jean Page frequently thrown into the mix. There’s even the possibility they surprise us all and deliver a Logan-type story with a grizzled Pierce Brosnan reprising the role.

Whatever the case, while it’s a shame Broccoli and Wilson won’t be part of it, it’s great to see a Bond film moving forward, and with such exciting names attached. Although with Villeneuve set to write and direct a third Dune movie before turning his attention to 007, we could yet be in for our longest wait ever. But one thing’s for sure – James Bond will return.

You might also like

• How to watch the James Bond movies in order: chronological and release date
• Stand ready for Invincible season 5's arrival, worm: Amazon confirms the hit Prime Video show's fourth chapter won't be its last
• Ballard season 2 would have a ‘very exciting’ arc says Maggie Q – but the Bosch spin-off might not return, despite being Prime Video’s #1 show
• New to Prime Video? Here are 5 movies and TV shows with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes to get you started

Kicking off everything new on Netflix in August 2025 is My Oxford Year, which, luckily for us, is already available to stream. Based on the book of the same name by Julia Whelan, the new movie tells the story of Anna (Sofia Carson), an American student who travels to Oxford, England to fulfill her dreams. While there, she meets a local called Jamie (Corey Mylchreest) and a picture-perfect romance begins. Think dramatic kisses in the rain, beautiful scenery and everything else we’ve been missing since the Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill days.

This is all excellent news if you’ve been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 over the last few weeks. The love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung), Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christropher Briney) has reached ridiculous new heights, with Belly and Jeremiah set to get married, despite Jeremiah’s rancid behavior. Conrad has returned home to find this all out at his mom’s memorial ceremony, sticking by Belly while Jeremiah once again leaves her in the lurch.

While The Summer I Turned Pretty is exasperating to watch, I’m completely for switching over to My Oxford Year this month. Sure, it’s a movie rather than a TV series, but Netflix is hitting the nail on the romantic head where Prime Video is turning love into the most bizarre soap opera of the year.

Netflix’s My Oxford Year gives us the blistering romance that The Summer I Turned Pretty is missing

Listen, we know Conrad’s blind persistence and undying love for Belly is going to pay off by the end of season 3, and episode 5’s plan to shift to his perspective will likely be the turning point we’re waiting for. But boy, is it all a long and arduous slog to get there. Sometimes, we just want a romance with no hidden agenda, keeping things simple with two people meeting, falling in love and being torn apart before fate thrusts them back together again. And that’s where My Oxford Year comes in.

If you want romance, the new Netflix movie is just that in every single sense of the word. That doesn’t only extend to Anna and Jamie’s blossoming relationship – which has incredibly convincing chemistry, I must add – but also life itself. We’re looking out at the world with rose-tinted glasses, and there’s beauty everywhere we look. Subscribers can get wrapped up in all the intricate storylines and years-worth of lore that they like, but sometimes, we just need reminding of the basics.

Frankly, I’m all too happy to have a break from The Summer I Turned Pretty, even if it lasts until the final season is through. It’s summer (for those of us in the northern hemisphere at least), the nights are still light and I wanted to be whisked away in a whirlwind love affair that definitely won’t happen to me in real life. On that (and many other things), My Oxford Year wins out, and I just know my fellow Conrad-lovers will agree.

You might also like

• Young Sheldon and Big Bang Theory fans need to stream this hilarious new Netflix comedy this weekend, and not just for Leanne Morgan
• Netflix really didn’t need to do another Pride and Prejudice remake, and this bungled casting announcement proves it
• Wednesday season 3 is confirmed by Netflix and I’m thrilled this Tim Burton series isn’t dead in the ground

• New Pixel Buds 2a leak shows what appears to be an updated design
• No spec details as yet, but three colors have been revealed
• Expect an official launch on August 20

We've been getting lots of leaks and rumors in the run up to the official unveiling of the Google Pixel 10 series, which is happening on Wednesday, August 20. And the latest one appears to spill key details of the latest cheap Pixel Buds that will launch alongside the phones.

The images, which appear to be renders for marketing materials, come via Android Headlines. AH says that while there's not a huge amount of detail just yet, the earbuds are called the Pixel Buds 2a and they're the successor to the Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds Google announced way back in 2021. That's a long time in headphone years, but Google tends to update its earbuds at a much more leisurely pace than its rivals.

We're hoping the new Buds 2a are more comfortable than the current A-Series. (Image credit: Android Headlines)Google Pixel Buds 2a: what we know so far

The leak says that there will be multiple color options including the Iris color shown in the renders, plus Strawberry and Fog Light. The expectation is that these new buds will deliver better sound and battery life than the existing version, which seems like a safe bet.

There were two key issues with the originals that hopefully the new Pixel Buds 2a will address: the A Series weren't the most comfortable buds for long wear, and we found the sound quality to be a bit fatiguing. Given how competitive and fast-moving the world Android-friendly entries among the best earbuds has become, I'm hoping we'll see significant improvements in both of those areas.

We're expecting to see these new earbuds alongside the other Pixel products on August 20, and they should be priced keenly: the original Pixel Buds A Series were $99 / £99 (about AU$140) when they launched, and while electronics prices have gone up significantly since then (and may go up further: I'm writing this just hours after dozens of new US import tariffs were introduced by the Trump administration) Google's going to want to keep them competitively priced.

By comparison, Apple's recently launched non-ANC AirPods (4th Gen) launched at $129 / £129 / AU$219, so if Google can match or undercut that, it seems like it's playing at the right level.

(Image credit: Android Headlines)You might also like

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: tiny earphones that are drowned out by the competition
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro
• The best wireless earbuds, all real-world tested by us

On April 25, 2025, Patrick Opet, CISO of JPMorgan Chase, issued an open letter to technology providers, urging the industry to address growing concerns about software supply chain security. His message emphasized the increasing operational and systemic risks associated with SaaS providers, particularly in highly regulated sectors like financial services.

To many across the SaaS and cyber security industries, this comes as no great surprise. For years, large businesses have been heavily investing in their own cyber security. However, in response, cyber criminals are moving down the supply chain to third party vendors as the new attack surface to bypass in-house security measures.

Instead of defensive posturing, we see this as an opportunity to demonstrate how purpose-built solutions can directly address these critical concerns. In particular, Opet’s call aligns with a wider industry shift—spurred by frameworks such as the EU’s DORA and the UK’s CTP regime—toward greater transparency, accountability, and operational resilience throughout the supply chain.

Supporting Resilience Through Deployment Choice

A key concern raised in the open letter is the industry’s growing reliance on single deployment models that can introduce concentration risk. Many SaaS providers operate solely in multi-tenant environments with shared IT infrastructure and common update cycles—an approach that can create efficiencies, but may not suit all customers’ control or compliance requirements.

One solution, and our own approach, is to offer deployment flexibility—whether that’s via public cloud, or on-premise. These technical capabilities support both single-tenant and hybrid models, giving clients greater control over how and where their data and workloads are managed.

For example, our asset management clients processing legacy data sets may choose an on-premise deployment for maximum control, while payment processors handling high transaction volumes might opt for our scalable cloud managed service solution.

This flexibility doesn’t need to come at the expense of innovation. Release cycles can be structured to give customers clarity and choice around when to adopt updates, with rigorous testing built into the process. In sectors where operational continuity is mission-critical, this control can be just as important as feature velocity.

Reducing Supply Chain Complexity

Opet’s letter also touches on the systemic risks posed by opaque third-party dependencies. In this regard, a conservative approach to supply chain design can help to minimize reliance on external services in the delivery of core applications.

When cloud infrastructure is relied on, robust business continuity and disaster recovery planning is required, including real-time replication across zones. We actively monitor our providers and maintain the transparency needed to support regulatory expectations around fourth-party oversight.

Resilience is about more than just technical architecture—it’s about building a culture of preparedness, and ensuring clients are confident in how their data is managed, stored, and protected.

Continuous Assurance, Not Annual Compliance

Another theme highlighted is the insufficiency of annual certifications as a stand-alone assurance model. Frameworks like ISO27001 and SOC 2 should be foundational—but not the end of the story.

Organizations must provide ongoing support for client audits and due diligence, and encourage proactive engagement between teams and clients’ governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) functions. Security and resilience aren’t one-off milestones—they are continuous, evolving responsibilities.

Enabling Secure, Governed Use of AI

The growing use of AI across the software landscape brings new opportunities—and new responsibilities. Vendors are integrating AI features in areas such as anomaly detection and process automation, always with clear governance and internal risk oversight.

For regulated firms, assurance around how AI is deployed, tested, and controlled is critical. Having said that, ensuring that any AI capabilities within platforms are developed with transparency, control, and compliance at the forefront, is essential.

Building Tomorrow's Security Standards Today

The message from JPMorgan Chase serves as an important reminder: as technology providers, we are an extension of our customers’ risk environments. Our role is not just to deliver functionality—it’s to help our clients operate safely, confidently, and compliantly in an increasingly complex world.

SaaS providers must commit to providing the flexibility, transparency, and resilience that financial services firms need to navigate today’s evolving regulatory expectations.

In return, the firms that will thrive are those that view security not as a compliance checkbox, but as a competitive advantage built through genuine partnership with their technology providers.

We've listed the best software asset management (SAM) tools.

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

• Pixel Watch 4 pricing for the US has leaked
• The main models will stay at the same price
• We could get a price drop on the LTE models

The Pixel Watch 4 is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, August 20 at the next Made by Google event – alongside the Pixel 10 phones and the Pixel Buds 2a – and a new leak gives us some idea about how much the new wearable is going to cost.

According to information obtained by Android Headlines, the starting price of the Pixel Watch 4 in the US will be the same as it was for the Pixel Watch 3 last year: $349. Presumably the international pricing of £349 / AU$579 will stay the same too.

That's for the 41mm model without LTE, but Android Headlines says the price for the Wi-Fi-only 45mm wearable is going to be the same as last year as well: $399 (or £399 / AU$669). In other words, Google seems to have avoided adding any price hikes.

In fact, the LTE variants are said to be cheaper: $399 vs $449 for 41 mm LTE and $449 vs $499 for 45 mm LTE. Internationally, the Pixel Watch 3 prices for those models were £449 / AU$749 and £499 / AU$839 respectively, so we'll have to see if there's any change there.

Promo packages

You might be able to get YouTube Premium with your Pixel Watch 4 (Image credit: Future)

We also have a few details about the promotional offers that are going to be available if you decide to pick up a Pixel Watch 4. Apparently everyone who buys the device will get six months of Fitbit Premium and a month of YouTube Premium included.

That gives you access to features such as extra fitness insights, instructor-led workouts, and meditation routines (with Fitbit Premium), as well as an ad-free YouTube experience, offline downloads, and YouTube Music Premium (with YouTube Premium).

These offers are now fairly typical with Google Pixel products, and certainly add to the appeal of the devices: Fitbit Premium will cost you $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$15.49 a month, and YouTube Premium $13.99 / £12.99 / AU$16.99 a month, if you decide to keep them on.

One more tidbit from this particular leak is that the Pixel Watch 4 is set to offer 25% faster charging than its predecessor, getting from zero to 50% of a charge in 15 minutes. We've already seen a leak of the redesigned charger that comes with the wearable.

You might also like

• The Pixel Watch 4 could get a bigger battery
• Google wants to improve Pixel Watch repairability
• A flurry of Google Pixel Watch 4 leaks appear

• Microsoft uncovers cyber espionage attacks targeting diplomats
• Embassies within Russia are being hit with malware
• The threat actors are using adversary-in-the-middle attacks

Foreign embassies in Moscow are being targeted by Russian state hackers, who are using custom malware tracked as ApolloShadow, disguised as Kaspersky antivirus software, new reports have claimed.

The attacks have the end goal of installing a TLS root certificate which allows the threat actor to ‘cryptographically impersonate’ trusted websites visited by the infected system inside the embassy, Microsoft Threat Intelligence reports.

“This campaign, which has been ongoing since at least 2024, poses a high risk to foreign embassies, diplomatic entities, and other sensitive organizations operating in Moscow, particularly to those entities who rely on local internet providers," the experts noted.

Secret Blizzard

This cyber espionage campaign targeting diplomats and embassies uses what's known as an adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attack, which occurs when hackers intercept and alter communications between two parties without their knowledge.

These frequently leverage other attack vectors like social engineering emails or messages to create conditions in which an attacker can intercept and manipulate the communications between users and the legitimate services they use, then stealing credentials and authenticated access tokens.

The notorious threat actor, Secret Blizzard, has previously been observed hacking Ukrainian military tech by stealing points of entry from third-parties. The group is one of the most sophisticated and most prolific state-sponsored threat actors in the world.

Microsoft previously assessed with ‘low confidence’ that Secret Blizzard was conducting cyberespionage within Russian borders against its adversaries, but the company now confirms that they have the capability to carry these out on the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level.

This means diplomats using local ISP or telecommunications within Russia are ‘highly likely’ targets of Secret Blizzard’s AiTM position within those services.

“In our previous blog, we reported the actor likely leverages Russia’s domestic intercept systems such as the System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM), which we assess may be integral in facilitating the actor’s current AiTM activity, judging from the large-scale nature of these operations,” Microsoft confirmed.

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best firewall software around
• Check out our choice for best endpoint protection software to keep you safe
• US government wants to ban Chinese technology in submarine cables

The 10 finalists for the 20205 Reply AI Film Festival have just been announced. The festival, which launched last year, is designed specifically for films "written, enhanced or animated using AI".

The ten finalists for 2025 were selected for their ability to explore the theme of this year’s awards, which was "generation of emotions", and for “demonstrating how artificial intelligence can generate authentic and emotionally engaging experiences through cinematic language.”

AI artists, filmmakers, writers, animators, VFX artists, and enthusiasts from around the world, including Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States and Brazil took part in the contest.

I’ve watched most of the short films, and the amount of creativity on show is breathtaking. The films contain a wide range of styles, from anime to photorealistic to film noir.

In April the Oscars gave a tentative green light to the use of AI in films, but the topic continues to ruffle feathers amongst artists, the public and production studios alike.

Even the lovable popstar Nick Cave got into a spot of bother recently, for changing his mind about the use of AI in a post on his Red Hand Files blog. Cave had been gifted a new AI-created soundtrack film for the classic Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song Tupelo, created by the filmmaker Andrew Dominik, who is known for creating Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James, One More Time With Feeling, and Blonde, among others.

“As I watched Andrew’s surreal little film, I felt my view of AI as an artistic device soften. To some extent, my mind was changed", said Cave.

You can view the AI-generated movie yourself here: .

Cave’s unexpected about-face on AI has caused something of a reaction in the artists community, with his musician friend Amanda Palmer equating some of the scenes of AI recreating the deceased Elvis Presley as akin to “grave-robbing”.

Reply 2025

Like any tool, I believe it’s what you use AI for that matters. Rather than using AI to recreate the famous and dead, the finalists in the Reply AI Film Festival feature stunningly bold creative choices that might have been unfeasible without using AI.

For example, I was particularly struck by the short film Instinct by Marcello Costa Jr., a film-maker from Portugal – which features a neanderthal hunting a deer in the middle of a forest suddenly encountering a modern day skyscraper – and the mind-bending visual effects of the short film Meme, Myself and AI, by Private Island, a production studio from the UK.

Of course, the films in the Reply AI Film Festival are mostly less than five minutes long, but this is just the start of the AI movie revolution – I don’t think it’s going to be long now before the world gets its first full-length feature film, made entirely with AI.

The beauty of AI is that it can go as far as your imagination will allow.

“AI is not a replacement for human creativity, but a catalyst for innovation. It will enable filmmakers to explore new styles, genres, and narratives that were previously unimaginable.”, commented Gabriele Muccino, chair of the Reply jury.

Chosen from over 2,500 submissions across 67 countries, the Reply AI Film Festival winner will be awarded in a ceremony on Thursday, 4th September at the Mastercard Priceless Lounge, Hotel Excelsior, Venice.

You might also like...

• AI could actually change movies for the better – and fix that awful Game of Thrones finale
• I tried to get ChatGPT Agent (and Gemini) to shop on Amazon for me, but it failed – here’s why
• 3 ways to use the new ChatGPT Study mode that aren’t for homework

• The Battlefield 6 system requirements have been revealed
• A beefy CPU and graphics card are recommended
• Players should also use SSD storage for the best experience

EA has revealed the system requirements for Battlefield 6 and, if you're anything like me, it might be a sign that you need to upgrade your gaming PC.

Available via the official Battlefield 6 website, the game will require an Nvidia RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB graphics card at a minimum. This is in addition to Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor and 16GB of RAM.

As those specs are just a minimum requirement, however, I can't imagine that the experience will be very smooth.

You're recommended to have at least an Nvidia RTX 3060Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700-XT graphics card, in addition to a newer Intel Core i7-10700 or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU and the same 16GB or RAM.

Although the game will run on a conventional HDD, an SSD is also recommended and should help keep loading times to a minimum.

You can see a full list of the requirements minimum below:

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor(AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• Processor(Intel): Intel Core i5-8400
• Memory: 16GB
• Graphics Card(AMD): AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB
• Graphics Card(Nvidia): Nvidia RTX 2060
• Direct X: DX12
• Online Connection Requirements: Yes
• Hard Drive Space: HDD - 55GiB

And the recommended requirements:

• OS: Windows 11
• Processor(AMD): AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
• Processor(Intel): Intel Core i7-10700
• Memory: 16GB
• Graphics Card(AMD): AMD Radeon RX 6700-XT
• Graphics Card(Nvidia): Nvidia RTX 3060Ti
• Direct X: DX12
• Online Connection Requirements: Yes
• Hard Drive Space: SSD - 80GiB

The reveal of these system requirements follows a comprehensive rundown of the game's explosive multiplayer mode.

We also learned that the game will launch on October 10 and be exclusive to current generation platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S. Pre-orders are available now.

You might also like...

• 'He's probably pissed off' – Dying Light: The Beast director discusses setting a super-powered Kyle Crane loose and dialing the gore up to 11
• ‘No other studio has made this kind of game before’ – Where Winds Meet developers on building the ultimate free-to-play Chinese fantasy epic
• I learned tai chi from a bear, fought a man named Chubby Brother, then caught the bubonic plague in Where Winds Meet – and now I’m downloading this free PS5 game on day one

When it comes to laptops, "good enough" isn't good enough: you need a system that's as smart as you are, with the stamina to handle the most demanding days and your passion projects too. And that means a PC with a Snapdragon X Series® processor.

Snapdragon X Series processors deliver an unrivalled balance of performance and battery life measured not in hours, but in days. It powers up all your favourite apps and takes care of even the most intensive tasks without breaking a sweat. And it does all of that on a single charge that lasts for days*.

The speed you need to ace everything

To say Snapdragon X Series processors are fast is like saying space is quite big. Snapdragon X Series delivers the kind of performance that makes jaws drop and eyes pop.

All Snapdragon X Series deliver exceptional speed, and the star of the family is the incredible Snapdragon X Elite. It comes with the new Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, which is the leader in performance per watt. In plain English that means blisteringly fast performance and exceptional battery life too: it's available at processor speeds of up to 4.2GHz with up to 64GB of memory. Your PC may look like a laptop, but inside it's a supercomputer.

(Image credit: Qualcomm)Battery life that's twice as nice

Snapdragon X Elite isn't just speedy. It’s smart too. It intelligently distributes workloads across the entire system in order to deliver exceptional battery life: twice as long as typical laptops. With up to 22 hours of battery life* from a single charge, your PC powered by Snapdragon X Elite allows you to work or play for several days without needing to find a power outlet. That makes PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite particularly great for anyone who needs to work or study in multiple places that may, or may not have readily available outlets, and for anyone who loves going off grid or going on adventures.

AI like no other

AI's becoming an increasingly important tool for students, and PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite are the perfect partners for generative AI, large language models and other advanced technologies that lesser laptops just cannot cope with. The Snapdragon's incredible speed – it handles up to 45 trillion operations per second – meaning it outperforms rival laptops to bring you a turbo-charged AI experience. And because the Snapdragon X Elite is so efficient, it does it without draining the PC’s battery.

(Image credit: Qualcomm)Immersive entertainment

Snapdragon X Elite comes with Snapdragon Sound™ Technology Suite, the cutting-edge sonic system that elevates your audio to deliver high-quality streaming and sensational soundtracks in crystal-clear lossless audio. The premium integrated Qualcomm Adreno GPU delivers stunning graphics and deliciously vibrant 5K video for immersive entertainment, delivering supercharged performance with ultra-low power consumption. And the Snapdragon X Elite [1] can make you look good too, with support for 4K HDR webcams that deliver super-sharp video calls and conferencing.

Comprehensive connectivity

When you have a laptop powered by Snapdragon X Elite, you’ll want to take full advantage of its impressive capabilities with incredibly fast wireless connections for both work and entertainment. Snapdragon X Elite delivers just that. With high-performance Wi-Fi 7 and the latest Bluetooth® wireless technologies, you get lightning-fast and incredibly stable wireless connectivity. Additionally, optional support for fast 5G mobile data connections, combined with the long battery life characteristic of Snapdragon processors, makes PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite ideal for travel.

(Image credit: Qualcomm)The perfect partner for you

One of our favorite things about PCs with Snapdragon X Series processors is that there’s one to suit every kind of student, and to suit every budget too. From the ultra-portable Acer Swift Go AI and Microsoft Surface 13 to the massive and massively powerful Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge 16 there are Snapdragon PCs of all sizes and specs – and if you want something even more flexible, there are all kinds of innovative designs such as Lenovo's brilliant IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1, which instantly and effortlessly converts from a laptop to a tablet and has ultra-fast Wi-Fi 7 to make it a perfect portable PC.

What we love most about PCs with Snapdragon X Series processors is that you don't have to compromise. You don't have to pick between high performance and long battery life, because Snapdragon X Series delivers both. And you don't have to settle for a PC that's less than perfect, because Snapdragon X Series powers amazing PCs of all shapes and sizes from all of your favorite names.

Click here to discover how your Snapdragon PC will help you rule the school.

* Battery life varies significantly based on device, settings, usage and other factors

• Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls just got its first gameplay deep dive
• This beginner's guide focuses on game mechanics and the tag system
• It seems wholly different to how tagging worked in the Marvel vs. Capcom series

PlayStation Studios and Arc System Works has released the official beginner's guide for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, an upcoming fighting game scheduled to release in 2026.

Uploaded via IGN's YouTube channel, the beginner's guide gives us our first comprehensive look at Fighting Souls' gameplay - including its overall style, button layout, and initially bizarre tag mechanics.

A 4v4 2D fighting game, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has you selecting a team of four heroes (or villains) from its character roster. You first is your 'leader' character, whom you'll assume control of in battle. The other three are your assists, and they'll perform different actions based on which slot they're in.

The beginner's guide makes it abundantly clear that you won't have access to your full team at the start of a match, however. You'll begin with just two, and you'll need to unlock your third and fourth through various actions. These include successfully throwing your opponent, performing a stage transition by knocking your opponent off the edge of the screen, or losing a round.

This certainly isn't what I was expecting, and is an incredibly novel take on the tag fighter formula. That said, Fighting Souls will still feel somewhat familiar to Arc System Works fans in other areas.

Like Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, each character has light, medium, and heavy buttons which can be strung together for a combo. With enough meter, these 'auto combos' can end in special or ultimate moves depending on the input string. Everyone also has a button dedicated to their unique skill, such as Iron Man's missiles or Doctor Doom's shield.

It's quite a lot to take in, but I think the real complexity will come into the placement of your assist characters. There are three types of assist - shooter, vertical, and assault - so picking the right character for the role will undoubtedly lead to hours upon hours of experimentation.

There's no release date for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls just yet, outside of its 2026 window. However, with Sony's large-scale EVO 2025 fighting game event happening over the weekend, I'm expecting even more news for the game. Perhaps some character trailers or a more concrete release date.

You might also like...

• Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal: release date and open beta weekends confirmed, plus all the announcements as they happened
• Two Square Enix RPGs have been announced for Nintendo Switch 2, including the next entry in the Octopath Traveler series
• The next Monster Hunter game gets an official Nintendo Direct announcement and it's releasing next year for PC and consoles

• The average UK SMB now invests 36% of its annual revenue in new tech
• Finances and payments are common use cases
• Only 1% of companies remain non-tech-users

Britain's small and medium-sized businesses are investing more than a third (36%) of their annual revenue in new tools and technology, new Worldpay data has said, with most (90%) also agreeing tech investments have already significantly boosted efficiency.

Among the most popular areas for new tech investments across all type of UK SMBs are financial management (54%), marketing and sales (49%) and payment processing (47%), with employee management, inventory control and CRM also seeing a healthy boost.

On the flip side, only 1% of SMBs are now not using any technology, compared with one in five (20%) a decade ago, marking a huge departure from old ways.

UK SMBs are mostly tech-first

"This digital transformation is not just a trend - it's a vital evolution that enhances productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction," Worldpay GM for SMB International Chris Wood explained.

A number of factors could have contributed to the rise in spend on digital platforms, but the post-pandemic behavioral shift could lead them. Customers now expect contactless and omnichannel services that are fast and instant.

Then, there are the regulatory hurdles, for example HMRC's Making Tax Digital mandate which requires bookkeeping to be completed using certain reporting software.

"Worldpay is on a mission provide SMBs with the right technology, empowering independent businesses to compete on a level playing field and thrive," Wood added.

You might also like

• Small business leaders are struggling to cope with a plummeting UK employment rate
• We've listed the best productivity apps and best online collaboration tools
• Check out the best AI tools and a handy boost