TechRadar News

• Spotify is now asking UK users to prove their age to access mature content
• The age verification checks have been introduced as part of the UK's Online Safety Act
• Spotify says it will present age checks if it suspects you're under 13, but many users have encountered checks despite being over 18

Spotify has become the latest app to introduce measures designed to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, by asking users to undergo age verification checks if they want to view or listen to age-restricted content – and many users aren't happy.

The age verification requirements of the Online Safety Act came into effect from July 25, and requires all platforms that display adult content to verify that users are over 18 using age verification checks.

So far, we've seen the likes of Xbox, Discord and Reddit introduce age verification, and now Spotify has done the same.

Like Reddit and X, Spotify has partnered with digital identification firm Yoti, a service that conducts age checks via facial scanning. For Spotify users, Yoti will use different means of age verification, from facial scanning to requesting a scan of your ID if it suspects you’re under 13 (Spotify’s minimum age requirement).

It will also use algorithmic methods to estimate a user’s age. But Spotify is taking it a step further, stating in its official outline that "your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted" if you fail to complete the age verification process.

While Yoti claims that your data will be kept safe, and eventually deleted, the new requirement has caused uproar among some Spotify users.

Some have take to forums such as Reddit to point that young people are clever enough to find ways around the checks, for example using a VPN to change their location to somewhere other than the UK – and a minority have even threatened to revert to piracy (see below).

Comment from r/ukpoliticsWhat is ‘mature content’ in Spotify?

(Image credit: Spotify)

This is the burning question among Spotify fans, considering the music streaming app doesn't host X-rated content on the same scale as Reddit or X. However, the platform does have certain features that are aimed at mature users.

In Spotify's case, you may be asked to verify your age if you try to "access some Spotify content and features, like Music videos that are labeled as 18+ by rightsholders". This could also apply to podcasts that discuss mature content and songs with explicit lyrics.

Fortunately, there is a way back if your account becomes deactivated due to an inaccurate age estimation. According to Spotify, you'll get an email that "allows you to reactivate your account within 90 days of deactivation", after which you'll need to go through age verification checks again.

So far, I haven’t been asked to verify my age in the Spotify app when trying to access mature podcasts and music videos, but a handful of users on forums like Reddit who are well over the age of 18 have have already encountered the checks.

Why have VPNs become so popular?

Spotify has explained in various community posts that it isn't designed to work with VPNs, and you naturally shouldn't use one to circumvent any age verification checks.

However, this hasn't stopped free VPNs from dominating Apple's UK App Store, as internet users look to find ways of protecting their data from future breaches, or perhaps even bypass those checks completely.

VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, but they're not all equal – so it's important to choose the right one for your needs. Free VPNs can log an excessive amount of data, which could ultimately put your privacy at risk, and sometimes lack important security features.

If you're interested in some of the best deals for paid VPNs, you can check them out below.

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• Spotify HiFi: release date rumors, price predictions, and everything we know so far
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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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #1284).

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 #1285) - 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 #1285) - 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 #1285) - 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 #1285) - 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 #1285) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• M

• W

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1285) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1285, are…

• ACTOR
• MEALY
• WIDTH
• ADOBE

Knowing letters that go together can really speed up a Quordle game. Today, it was predicting the TH in WIDTH and LY in MEALY that helped me complete the puzzle.

That said, I still struggled with a wrong guess, trying “maple” ahead of the correct word.

As with many Quordle games ADOBE was pulled from my memory bank of previous games – this is its third entry since March.

Daily Sequence today (game #1285) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1285, are…

• WREST
• LATHE
• ALERT
• WOULD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #781).

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 #782) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PLAYWRIGHT
• DEAN
• ROOF
• TEMPLE
• FACULTY
• WREATH
• BENT
• SWORD
• GARLAND
• HAY
• GIFT
• WRAP
• JACKPOT
• FLAIR
• GABLE
• ROAD

NYT Connections today (game #782) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Skill
• GREEN: A letter you cannot hear
• BLUE: Silver screen icons
• PURPLE: A striking word in common

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 #782) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: APTITUDE 
• GREEN: SILENT "W" 
• BLUE: LEGENDS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD 
• PURPLE: HIT THE ____ 

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

NYT Connections today (game #782) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #782, are…

• 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

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

I made two mistakes today trying to put together what I thought was a group about plant-based decorations, based on the fact that GARLAND and WREATH were the only two words in common that I could see among the entire 16.

Thankfully, I abandoned this dead end and made the link between GABLE, DEAN and TEMPLE and then the four words featuring a silent W.

My struggles weren’t over, however, as I had JACKPOT instead of FACULTY before realizing my error after getting a “one away”. I hope it was a bit easier for you.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, July 31, game #781)

• YELLOW: FIRST___ AID, LADY, NATIONS, RESPONDER
• GREEN: SECOND___ COMING, FIDDLE, GUESS, NATURE
• BLUE: THIRD___ EYE, PARTY, RAIL, ROCK
• PURPLE: LAST___ LAUGH, RESORT, STRAW, SUPPER

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #515).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Slithering away

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• CANADA
• TRADER
• PLACE
• BEAT
• POLAR
• CLEAR

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th 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 #516) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #516, are…

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

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

I was expecting the spangram to spell out “snake”, but that would be too obvious – and too short.

Despite knowing what we were searching for, I struggled to find a SERPENT – but did locate plenty of non-game words, so I took a hint to get me going. ADDER set me off and from there I slithered to glory.

That said, I did tap out “rattle” instead of RATTLER about three times before adding the R once there was no other option.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, July 31, game #515)

• SPONGE
• LAVA
• BUNDT
• FRUIT
• POUND
• CHEESE
• FUNNEL
• SPANGRAM: PIECE OF CAKE

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.

• Meta and Stanford University researchers have developed new MR glasses
• These specs use holography to produce high-quality images
• Support rumors that Meta's headsets may turn into slim goggles

Meta’s newly published research gives us a glimpse at its future XR plans, and seemingly confirms it wants to make ultra-slim XR goggles.

That’s because Meta’s Reality Labs, alongside Stanford University, published a paper in Nature Photonics showcasing a prototype that uses holography and AI to create a super-slim mixed reality headset design.

The optical stack is just 3mm thick, and unlike other mixed reality headsets we’re used to – like the Meta Quest 3 – this design doesn’t layer stereoscopic images to create a sense of depth. Instead, it produces holograms that should look more realistic and be more natural to view.

That means it’s not only thin, but high-quality too – an important combination.

(Image credit: Suyeon Choi, Changwon Jang, Douglas Lanman and Gordon Wetzstein)

Now there’s still more work to be done. The prototype shown in the image above doesn’t look close to being a consumer-grade product that’s ready to hit store shelves.

What’s more, it doesn’t yet seem to pass what’s called the Visual Turing Test. This would be the point at which it's impossible to distinguish between a hologram and a real-world object, though that goal looks to be what Reality Labs and Stanford hope to eventually achieve.

Even with this technology still likely years (perhaps even a decade) from making it to a gadget you or I could go out and buy, the prototype’s design does showcase Meta’s desire to produce ultra-thin MR tech.

It lends credence to rumors that Meta’s next VR headset could be a pair of lightweight goggles about a fifth as heavy as the 515g Meta Quest 3.

Given these rumored goggles are believed to be coming in the next few years, they’ll likely avoid the experimental holography tech found in Meta and Stanford’s report, but if Meta were looking to trim weight and slim down the design further in future iterations, the research it’s conducting now would be a vital first step.

Are glasses and goggles the future? (Image credit: Oakley / Meta)

I, for one, am increasingly excited to see what XR tech Meta is cooking up.

It's Ray-Ban, and now Oakley, glasses have showcased the wild popularity that XR wearables can achieve if they find the sweet spot of comfort, utility, and price, with that first factor looking to be the most vital.

Meta’s other recent research into VR on the software side also highlights that a lighter headset would remove friction in keeping people immersed for hours on end.

This could lead to more meaningful productivity applications, but also more immersive and expansive gaming experiences, and other use cases I’m excited to see and try when the time is right.

For now, I'm content with my Meta Quest 3, but I can't deny it now looks a little like a boulder next to this 3 mm-thick prototype design.

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• Marvel is reportedly searching for young actors for its X-Men movie reboot
• A new report suggests it'll help the studio to make a cheaper film
• If true, it might solve a big mystery about one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's cast members

A new report claims Marvel is looking for up-and-coming actors to play the X-Men in its rebooted film series – and, if true, it might solve one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's biggest mysteries.

Per Variety, the comic giant is eyeing younger talent to portray its iconic mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). According to an agent Variety spoke to, Marvel's decision to hire rising stars and unknown quantities is part of a new cost-cutting mandate that aims to reduce how much it spends on new movies and Disney+ shows.

Variety's article, which was published yesterday (July 30), arrives just over a week after Marvel president Kevin Feige dropped the biggest hint yet over the type of star he wants to see in Marvel's untitled X-Men movie.

Speaking to Nerdist, Feige, who also confirmed Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier would direct the flick after online reports claimed he would, said: "Jake has his pulse on, shall we say, a younger demographic. Not – he’s younger than me, for sure – but he’s tapped into that in a way that I think is important. It was important for Thunderbolts* [and] much more important for X-Men, because X-Men, as it was in the comics, will be a very youth-oriented, focused, and cast movie."

What has Marvel's X-Men movie cast scouting got to do with Spider-Man 4?

Tom Holland's next Spider-Man film will reportedly see him appear opposite a Stranger Things star (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

In some ways, Marvel's plan to scour the globe for young talent to star in its forthcoming X-Men film is similar to 20th Century Fox's approach to its own X-Men movie series reboot. The latter saw the likes of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence appear in four films – starting with 2011's X-Men: First Class – that featured a younger version of Professor X, Magneto, and company.

If it's true that Marvel is seeking out less established actors to portray the MCU's X-Men to save cash, it almost certainly puts a pin in one cast rumor concerning Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Indeed, Spider-Man 4, which has just started filming in Glasgow, Scotland, is reportedly set to feature Sadie Sink in a substantial role alongside Tom Holland's webslinger.

There's been no official word on which character the Stranger Things actor might play – in fact, nobody close to the movie's production has actually confirmed that she's part of proceedings. Nevertheless, one of the prevailing theories about who she could portray is Jean Grey, aka one of the most famous mutants in Marvel's storied history.

In light of Marvel's apparent desire to keep costs down across the board on its X-Men project, though, the possibility that Sink could play Jean Grey is basically a non-starter.

Some Marvel fans think Sadie Sink has been hired to play Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4 (Image credit: Netflxi)

According to a Puck newsletter circulated to subscribers in January 2023, Sink is reportedly set to earn over $7 million for Stranger Things season 5. At the time, Puck indicated the wildly popular Netflix show's final season led to all of its main cast members receiving bumper new pay deals.

It's difficult to corroborate Puck's claim. However, if it's true, Sink's seven-figure sum for one of the best Netflix shows' final hurrah would basically rule her out of playing Jean Grey in the MCU. Marvel isn't going to pay Sink that kind of sum if it planned on hiring her to play the telekinetic superhuman across multiple projects. Feige has already confirmed the X-Men will be front and center of the MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars wraps up the Multiverse Saga. Whoever signs on to play one of mutant-kind, then, will be in it for the long haul and Marvel will ensure they're locked into deals that won't increase their pay 10-fold every time they appear.

Need more proof that hiring non-A-listers for comic book movies is the way to go from a financial perspective? Just look at Superman, the first DC Universe (DCU) movie released as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted cinematic franchise. According to a July 2025 edition of the Puck newsletter, leading man David Corenswet was paid just $750,000 to appear in the DCU Chapter One film. That's around a tenth of what Sink is apparently going to earn from Stranger Things 5.

If Marvel wants to save money, it should follow DC Studios' lead and not fork out seven-figure sums to anyone it hires to play one of the X-Men. It's for that reason alone that I'm more than convinced than ever that Sink can't possibly be playing Jean Grey in Spider-Man's next big-screen adventure.

For more on Holland's next MCU project, including why Spider-Man 4's release date was delayed, check out my dedicated guide on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Once you're done, peruse the below section for more X-Men, Spider-Man, and Marvel-based content.

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• Ingram Micro confirmed suffering a ransomware attack in July 2025
• It has been revealed this was the work of the SafePay group
• The threat actors have added Ingram Micro to its data leak site

Ingram Micro has been added to SafePay’s data leak site, meaning the countdown is on before terabytes of data are leaked on the dark web.

The company suffered a ransomware attack in July 2025 which forced it to shut down parts of its infrastructure. As a result, its business operations were disrupted, and some of its employees were sent to work from home.

The company managed to restore its services rather fast, but the miscreants made away with 3.5TB of sensitive data - which they are now threatening to release unless they are paid.

Terabytes of sensitive files

At the time of the attack, the company did not say who the threat actors were, but BleepingComputer has now uncovered the attack 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.

At the time of the attack it was also said SafePay broke through the company’s GlobalProtect VPN platform, and left ransom notes on employee devices.

Among the systems impacted by the breach was Ingram Micro’s AI-powered Xvantage distribution platform, and the Impulse license provisioning platform.

Should SafePay leak Ingram Micro’s data, it could send ripples throughout the business world, since it is one of the biggest B2B service providers and technology distributors around, servicing more than 160,000 customers globally, including giants such as Apple, HP, and Cisco.

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I’ll tell you a secret: I hate having to update our best cheap tablets guide. Not because I’m against the idea of affordable tech slates, but because I feel bad about the state of the cheap tablet market in 2025.

There are really only a handful of lower-end tablets worth considering at the time of writing, and it’s a challenge to recommend anything other than Apple’s latest entry-level iPad, which, I acknowledge, stretches the definition of ‘affordable’ for most people.

I’m mildly relieved, then, that Huawei has announced a refreshed version of its impressive MatePad 11.5 tablet, which is coming to the UK and Europe later this month. This 11.5-inch slate will boast a 120Hz LCD display with a 2.5k resolution, 8GB of RAM, a sizeable 10,100mAh battery, and optional PaperMatte technology – all decent specs, if Huawei gets the price right.

Of course, if you’re living in the US, this is useless information. The MatePad 11.5 won’t be getting a truly global release, just as the OnePlus Pad Go and all of Xiaomi and Honor’s budget-friendly tabs are confined to British, European, and Asian markets.

The existing Huawei MatePad 11.5 (above) is getting a 2025 refresh (Image credit: Huawei)

For our friends across the pond (I’m writing this from London), the cheap tablet situation boils down to three, maybe four options. If you’re willing to stretch your budget a little further, the iPad 11-inch (2025) is, hands-down, one of the best tablets you can buy, while Android fans should consider the Lenovo Tab or Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. For a truly affordable option, I’d recommend one of Amazon’s cheap and cheerful Fire tablets.

That’s pretty much it. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 never came to the US, and while US folks can buy the larger Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, that device launched almost two years ago, meaning it’s hard to recommend in 2025. There’s still no sign of the Galaxy Tab A10 series.

Similarly, the Google Pixel Tablet debuted in May 2023, and we haven’t heard a peep about a potential second-generation model (August’s Made by Google showcase will almost certainly be reserved for the Pixel 10 series and Pixel Watch 4).

The iPad 11-inch (2025) is our go-to cheap tablet recommendation (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

It’s nothing new for US buyers to have access to a smaller pool of products than those in other regions – good luck getting one of the best Xiaomi phones or best Oppo phones in the US – but the affordable tablet situation feels particularly dire.

There are, of course, various strategic, economic, and even political factors at play here, and I’m not going to weigh in on whether those factors are right or wrong. Rather, I’m just drawing attention to a problem I keep encountering when updating our best cheap tablets guide each month: there are very few options worth recommending to a global audience.

Apple’s entry-level iPad is an excellent device, but I’d like to see Google and Samsung have another proper crack at the lower end of the tablet market.

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• Microsoft has put together a new promotional video
• It sells the benefits of transferring to a new PC via the Backup app
• However, it's also pushing a OneDrive subscription - but there are free alternatives

Microsoft has published a video clip explaining how easy it is to move to Windows 11 using the Backup app to transfer the contents of your Windows 10 PC (or most of them, anyway).

Windows Latest spotted the new promotional video from Microsoft, which shows how easy it is to make the leap to a Windows 11 PC (see the clip below).

As the video makes clear, you can back up your personal files, Windows settings, and also some apps from your Windows 10 PC, and transfer them directly to a Windows 11 computer with a minimum of fuss (or that's certainly the idea).

To be fair to Microsoft, it also points out the major catches with using the Windows Backup app to switch over to a Windows 11 PC.

Namely, that you can't take third-party apps with you - they need manual reinstallation, only Microsoft Store apps can be ported across (their pins will be where you left them, and you can click on the relevant pin to restore the application) - and that you're limited to 5GB of files by default.

The 5GB restriction is in place because the backup that the Windows app creates is stored on OneDrive - so you need an account with Microsoft's cloud storage locker. The basic free account only has 5GB of cloud storage, and if you want more space than that, you'll have to pay for a OneDrive subscription.

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)Analysis: other options for PC migration that are free

So, the long and short of it is, if your data and settings amount to more than 5GB - which it surely will in most cases - then you'll need a paid plan on OneDrive to ensure Windows Backup transfers all your stuff to a new Windows 11 PC.

In other words, this is Microsoft not-so-subtly pushing a OneDrive subscription (not for the first time, I might add). If you want to use Microsoft's built-in Windows Backup facility, there's no alternative to OneDrive. If you paid for cloud storage with another provider, no choice is offered to use that cloud locker instead.

There are alternatives to paying for a OneDrive subscription to ensure you have enough capacity to fully transfer all your files across to a new PC. You can simply be very selective about what you choose for Microsoft's Backup app to port over, and perhaps leave out the hefty chunk of media files (photos, videos) you may have on your computer.

To move those media files, you could simply copy them to an external drive, and then subsequently manually move them onto the new PC - okay, that's a bit of extra hassle, but it's not really a big deal. (If you do go this route, don't delete the files from the original PC until they're safely transferred - always be sure to keep multiple copies. Never rely on a single copy of any data, as in this case, if the external drive goes kaput, you've lost everything).

Another eventual option will be the PC-to-PC migration feature in the Windows Backup app, which transfers your files over from one computer to another via the local network (with no need for OneDrive). However, you will need a Microsoft account still, and in this case, no apps will be ported across at all (not even those from the Microsoft Store).

Even so, this will be a useful alternative in the future, but the feature isn't live yet. Indeed, it hasn't appeared on Windows 10 at all - only the non-functional shell of the PC-to-PC migration feature is available on Windows 11 currently - but I can only presume that Microsoft is working to get this up and running before October 2025, when Windows 10 support runs dry.

Notably, though, Microsoft doesn't mention PC-to-PC migration in the above video clip. Fair enough, as noted, it isn't working yet, and so the company does have an excuse - but I'm betting there won't be an all-singing-and-dancing promotional video campaign for this feature when it debuts. Unlike pushing OneDrive, this isn't going to give Microsoft any immediate (potential) financial benefit.

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The next Nintendo Direct presentation is almost here! Promising a look at third-party publisher games, this Partner Showcase will hopefully give us a peek and the next biggest titles coming to both the Nintendo Switch 2 and a smattering of extra life being breathed into the older Switch models.

This update from third-party publishers could shine further light on what the Switch 2 is going to be capable - more modern games of recent times coming to the handheld machine? - as well as what life there is left in the older Switch. Elsewhere, could we see Hollow Knight: Silksong? More information on The Duskbloods? Who knows, but color us excited!

Join us as we count down the next couple of hours until the live stream, keeping you up to date with all the pertinent info, as well as some of our predictions and hopes for a bit of fun before covering the event live, moment to moment.

July Nintendo Direct countdown

If you're after a visual feature to show exactly how long left until today's Nintendo Direct, then our handy graphic below has you covered.

July Nintendo Direct how to watch

As ever, the most reliable and straightforward place to catch today's Nintendo Direct is going to be on the official Nintendo YouTube channel. You can also watch on the official Twitch page if you prefer.

I'd recommend bookmarking the page for easy access, but we've got the YouTube video embedded below for convenience.

July Nintendo Direct start time

July's Nintendo Direct takes place today on July 31, 2025. It starts at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST.

Nintendo confirmed the Direct via a social media post and wek now that this one will be "roughly 25 minutes" long.

Our July Nintendo Direct predictions

Right off the bat, let's temper expectation. As a 'Partner Showcase', the Nintendo Direct is expected to be solely focused on third-party releases for both Switch and Switch 2.

That's not to say there isn't plenty to be excited about. The big ticket third-party Switch 2 release is definitely FromSoftware's The Duskbloods, due to launch sometime in 2026. This showcase could be the first time we see a bigger gameplay deep dive.

There's been plenty of noise about Hollow Knight: Silksong, too, though mainly over in the Xbox camp and the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Still, Nintendo could steal some of Microsoft's thunder here.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised to see more from Square Enix, particularly Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. Fighting game fans may also want to tune in, as a Tekken 8 Switch 2 release could be a possibility here. There's also been some buzz on X / Twitter around a re-release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, though admittedly there's nothing concrete here aside from Capcom's strong presence at Nintendo Direct presentations typically.

Hey gamers! We're officially less than a couple of hours away from today's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. This is the first big Nintendo Direct presentation we've had since the launch of Switch 2. While we're not expecting any big first-party announcements along the lines of Mario, Zelda, and so on, there's likely still going to be plenty of exciting games from third-party developers and publishers. We hope you'll join us for up-to-date coverage as the presentation happens.

The elephant in the room...

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

I know it, you know it, we all know it. Every Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase and Indie World Showcase is inevitably accompanied by the same question: "Where's Silksong?"

There's a big difference this time, though. We know Hollow Knight: Silksong is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025. And recently, Microsoft has made waves with its announcement of the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Xbox has also stated that Silksong will be playable on these devices when they launch.

Recent leaks have suggested that the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds could launch during Gamescom 2025, on August 20. This could also mean that Hollow Knight: Silksong will arrive around that same time.

So what does that have to do with this Nintendo Direct? Well, it's entirely possible Nintendo has beaten Xbox to the punch with its own Silksong announcement plans. We also saw around five seconds of the upcoming game at the initial Switch 2 Direct way back in April. So Nintendo certainly has previous with the anticipated indie title.

We'll know for sure (or not) in less than two hours...

What do we know about The Duskbloods?

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Nintendo stunned the world when it revealed the Switch 2 would be getting an exclusive title from acclaimed developer FromSoftware. The Duskbloods is set to launch in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2 only, and will be an asymmetrical multiplayer-focused title.

The game will differ from Elden Ring Nightreign in that it will have a strong PvP element, as opposed to Nightreign's strict PvE gameplay. One similarity, though, is that The Duskbloods will feature preset characters, all with their own skills and backstories.

Quite obviously taking cues from Bloodborne, The Duskbloods explores a gothic horror setting. But there does appear to be more modern elements, such as trains and a railway system.

Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki was interviewed by Nintendo in a Creator's Voice piece. I strongly recommend reading this if you haven't already, as Miyazaki provides a lot of insight into the game and its development.

Whether or not The Duskbloods makes an appearance at this Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase remains to be seen, but I've certainly got my fingers crossed.

What is a Partner Showcase?

At Nintendo Direct showcases, we're used to expecting big first-party announcements. However, Partner Showcases differ in that the focus is less on Nintendo itself, and more on its third-party partners who'll be bringing games to Switch and Switch 2.

On that note, don't expect any big Nintendo-centric announcements here. We don't know when the next big Nintendo Direct will be, but this isn't quite one of them. Even still, Partner Showcases still have the capacity to surprise us. Developers like Capcom, Square Enix and Bandai Namco have shown up in the past to deliver plenty of excitement, and I hope that will also be the case here.

Our Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Bingo Card!

We've made a simple bingo card for the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, which you can see just below. Feel free to play along!

(Image credit: Future)Ubisoft to make a splash?

(Image credit: Assassin's Creed Shadows)

I (Rob) really enjoyed both Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows - the latter more so - and can definitely see Ubisoft having the intent on getting both onto Nintendo's latest handheld console.

The Assassin's Creed ports on the original Nintendo Switch were pretty successful and ran nicely so there is precedent in those games coming to such systems. And with the Switch 2's beefier specs, it should be more than capable of running Outlaws or Shadows with a bit of optimisation.

What do you think? Would these be good additions to the Switch 2's third-party library?

Should we expect a date for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?

(Image credit: FromSoftware Inc.)

It's a strong possibility. Especially as we know this Switch 2 version of Elden Ring is due to release in 2025. Tarnished Edition packs the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into one. There's also going to be new starter classes, customization options for Torrent and even new weapons. These updates will also be coming to other versions of the game on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, so there's no fear of missing out if you don't own a Switch 2.

If we don't get The Duskbloods here, this would be the next best thing from the FromSoft camp. Unless they do something mad and put a King's Field collection on Switch 2. I'd be so down for that.

One hour to go!

Just an hour left before the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase begins!

What about Sonic?

(Image credit: Sega)

I actually can't believe I forgot to include the speedy blue hedgehog in the bingo card! Something Sonic-related has a very good chance of showing up at today's Partner Showcase.

Most likely, this will be a new trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Sega has pulled out all the stops when it comes to marketing this game, to the point where it seems like we're getting a new trailer or gameplay snippet every week. It wouldn't be too crazy to expect another one at this showcase, perhaps revealing some new tracks or guest characters.

Half an hour to go!

We're now at the half-hour mark! Just 30 minutes left until the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase kicks off. Remember, this one's only going to be 25 minutes long, so don't expect an absolute abundance of announcements. Still, we're hoping there'll be plenty of top quality games to look forward to over the coming months.

• Google's Project Zero gives vendors 90 days to fix a bug, and 30 days for patch adoption
• 'Upstream patch gap' means it takes too long for a patch to become available
• Reporting more details will encourage more transparency

Google has pledged to make updates to its Project Zero disclosure policy to report more security details quicker in an effort to improve security by enabling developers quicker access to the finer details of vulnerabilities.

Launched in 2021, Project Zero launched with a 90+30 policy – 90 days for vendors to fix a reported bug, and an additional 30 days for users to adopt the patch if it's fixed within the 90-day window.

However, since then, a so-called 'upstream patch gap' has emerged whereby the time between when a fix is available upstream and when it becomes available by downstream vendors is longer than ideal, extending the lifecycle of vulnerabilities.

Google's Project Zero will disclose even more infromation

A new trial policy will improve reporting transparency by disclosing the vendor or open-source project, the affected product, the date of the filed report and the 90-day disclosure deadline.

The changes were announced by the Project's Tim Willis, who explained: "For the end user, a vulnerability isn't fixed when a patch is released from Vendor A to Vendor B; it's only fixed when they download the update and install it on their device."

"By providing an early signal that a vulnerability has been reported upstream, we can better inform downstream dependents," Willis wrote.

Google hopes that the Project Zero update to include more details sooner will help the public track how long it takes between a vendor first making a patch available and that patch becoming available on the end device. Willis explained that an environment where transparency is normal and expected is the goal

Willis stressed, "no technical details, proof-of-concept code, or information that we believe would materially assist discovery will be released," therefore earlier reporting won't give attackers the upper hand.

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After years owning the 360 camera space with some of the best 360 cameras, most recently the X5, Insta360 finally has some proper competition with the arrival of the DJI Osmo 360. They could soon be joined by the GoPro Max 2 too (if GoPro does indeed bring its long-awaited 360 camera to market).

DJI has a slightly different take on the format to Insta360, delivering what it says are several industry firsts, most notably twin 1-inch sensors. The immediate question, therefore, is which model is best? Can the Osmo 360 dethrone our current favorite, the X5?

You can learn more about DJI's first 360 camera in our in-depth Osmo 360 review. We also have a hands-on versus feature on the way, for which we're pitting the Osmo 360 against the Insta360 X5 in several scenarios to see which model comes out on top.

For now, let's look at how the Osmo 360 and X5 compare based on the specs and features in seven key areas.

1. Sensors

• DJI Osmo 360: twin 1/1.1-inch square sensors with 2.4μm pixel size
• Insta360 X5: twin 1/1.28-inch sensors with 1.2μm pixel size

The headline feature of the DJI Osmo 360 is its twin sensors, specifically made for 360 capture. They're square format, meaning less wasted pixels than on a traditional rectangular sensor like the one the X5 uses, given that 360 cameras only use the central portion of the sensor.

The sensors are effectively 1-inch in size, which means they're the largest of their kind, and each pixel on the Osmo 360's sensors is twice the size of those in the X5. Still, before the Osmo 360, the X5's sensors were the largest, being bigger than the X4's, so it's hardly a slam dunk for DJI.

The advantage of larger pixels is, in theory, cleaner image quality, especially in low light, and a wider dynamic range, which is helpful in bright sunny conditions. Both cameras can shoot HDR video though, so expect plenty of detail in highlights and shadows with either camera.

A still taken with the Osmo 360, in the tiny-planet style (Image credit: DJI)2. Image quality

• DJI Osmo 360: 8K up to 50fps, 10-bit, 120MP stills
• Insta360 X5: 8K up to 30fps, 8-bit, 72MP stills

Both cameras shoot 8K video at their best; however the Osmo 360 offers frame rates up to 50fps, while the X5 tops out at 30fps. Stop the resolution down to 5.7K and frame rates even out, while at 4K both cameras can shoot 4x slow-motion video.

In addition to the benefits of its larger sensors we can expect richer color from the Osmo 360, because it can record 10-bit color depth, whereas the X5 is limited to 8-bit color depth. It also offers DJI's D-Log flat color profile – a popular profile for serious filmmakers wanting the most amount of tonal detail, who don't mind putting in time in the editing suite.

For 360 photography, the Osmo 360 shoots stills up to 120MP, while the X5 can record up to 72MP. Clearly, DJI's stills pack more detail.

The specs favor DJI, then, but we're currently conducting extensive tests with both cameras to see which comes out on top in real-world use.

3. Battery

• DJI Osmo 360: 1,910mAh battery
• Insta360 X5: 2,400mAh battery (an 'Ultra' 2,800mAh battery is also available)

At 1,910mAh, the Osmo 360's battery has a lower capacity than the X5's. However, DJI says its 360 camera is the first of its kind able to shoot 8K 30fps video continuously for up to 100 minutes.

Insta360 delivered an X5 firmware update, however, and one of the upgrades is improved battery life – it's Endurance Mode is now available for 8K recording, and increases battery life to “just under two hours” of continuous recording.

There are often plenty of caveats to actual battery performance, and often the reality is less than what the makers claim, especially for action cameras.

That said, Insta360 also launched a new 'Ultra' battery for the X5 alongside that firmware update, which costs $49.99 / £44.99 (Australia pricing TBC). With its 2,800mAh capacity, battery life is improved by another 17%.

Each brand claims better battery life than the other – our upcoming real-world tests will reveal which is best.

4. Storage

• DJI Osmo 360: micro SD plus 105GB internal
• Insta360 X5: micro SD

Both cameras record to micro SD card, and are compatible with large-capacity cards for hours of 8K recording. However, the Osmo 360 also features 105GB of built-in storage, and two convenient ways to record media is a win for DJI.

One of the many Osmo 360 accessories. The camera has both magnetic and screw-mounting options. (Image credit: DJI)5. Accessories

• DJI Osmo 360: DJI Mic 2 / Mic Mini wireless mic, numerous mounts
• Insta360 X5: Mic Air compatible, plentiful mounts and selfie stick options

Both Insta360 and DJI have had their skin in the action camera game for years, and each already has a wide range of accessories and mounts that can be used with their 360 cameras in various scenarios, whether that's for biking, in-car action, or for selfies.

Until recently, DJI had the upper hand for audio recording, with its class-leading wireless mics. The Osmo 360 is directly compatible with the Mic 2 and Mic Mini. Yes, you can mix and match brands for wireless audio, but direct compatibility is all the more convenient.

However, Insta360 recently launched its own wireless mic, the Mic Air. While not quite the mic that DJI's Mic 2 is, Insta360's mic, like DJI's, can be paired wirelessly and through Bluetooth within its respective eco system.

Insta360 is yet to launch a mic with the features of DJI's Mic 2, though, so DJI still has the edge in this respect.

6. Price and availability

• DJI Osmo 360: from £409.99 / AU$759; not yet available in the US
• Insta360 X5: from $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99

So, the Omso 360 seemingly has the advantage on all of the above – on specs alone at least. However, at launch there's good news and bad news regarding the Osmo 360. The bad news is that it isn’t directly available at launch in the US. The good news is that, where you can buy it, it costs less than the X5, starting at £409.99 in the UK and AU$759 in Australia. That price is for the Standard Combo, while the Adventure Combo costs £539.99 / AU$989.

That price is super-impressive when you consider the twin 1-inch sensors (and built-in storage) on board. As for the US, I asked a DJI Spokesperson about Osmo 360 pricing and availability and they said: "The Osmo 360 will launch globally on Thursday, July 31, at 8AM ET, but it will not be available for sale immediately in the U.S. market through official DJI channels. We currently do not have an estimated timeline for when it will be available, but we will keep you posted when we do."

It's a similar story with DJI's most recent drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, which hasn't launched in the US. The picture for DJI in the US looks bleak.

(Image credit: DJI)7. Lenses and design

• DJI Osmo 360: 184g, 2-inch screen, fixed lenses, lens protectors available
• Insta360 X5: 200g, 2.5-inch screen, replaceable lenses

DJI's Osmo 360 design is squarer than the X5's, with the latter being taller and squeezing in a larger 2.5-inch touchscreen. At 184g, the Osmo 360 is about 10% lighter than the X5, but no one is really going to notice the difference in weight, even if it is mightly impressive how light DJI has made the Osmo 360 considering the features on board.

Both cameras come supplied with a rubber lens guard to keep the lenses safe when not in use, plus clear lens protectors for the times that the lenses are at risk of damage during use, such as when shooting extreme sports.

Those clear lens protectors can compromise image quality, though, introducing flare and softness. For best quality, you're better shooting without them, even if that means the bulbous lenses are at risk.

The X5 has a feature unique to 360 cameras – replaceable lenses. You can buy spare lenses and, should you damage the original ones, swap them out for new ones. The DJI Osmo 360, like every other 360 camera, doesn't offer this.

DJI Osmo 360 vs Insta360 X5: key specs

DJI Osmo 360

Insta360 X5

Sensor

1/1.1-inch

1/1.28-inch

Video

8.K up to 50fps

8K up to 30fps

Photos

120MP 360 photo

72MP 360 photo

Size

61 x 83 x 47mm

46 x 124.5 x 38.2mm

Weight

184g

200g

Battery

1,910mAh (100 mins 8K)

2,400mAh (around 2 hours 8K)

Storage

Micro SD, 105GB built-in

Micro SD

Price

£409.99 / AU$759 / US N/A

$549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99

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• Mozilla has announced that its VPN is now available on all Linux distributions
• This move comes after the full device protection service previously only worked on Debian-based setups, such as Ubuntu
• Users will now be able to access the virtual private network service with easy installation via Flathub or a single-line terminal command

Mozilla VPN can now be installed by Linux users via Flatpak on Flathub, expanding the accessibility of the VPN, which is now available on any compatible Linux distribution without the need for specific packages or extra configurations.

While the move doesn’t necessarily transform Mozilla into the best VPN on the market in terms of features, it represents an important boost for the spread of this privacy-focused VPN, which had so far only worked on Debian-based systems like Ubuntu, among Linux users.

The new setup bridges the big gap that separates it from other VPNs offering ample Linux support, such as NordVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark, and could see it rise in the rankings, overtaking some competitors due to its comprehensive distribution list. A trusted and ubiquitous brand in the digital space, universal availability may well carve out Mozilla’s place as the one to beat.

Mozilla VPN arrives on Flathub

Using Flatpak as the universal installer – an approach that works on virtually all major Linux distributions (Fedora, Arch, Mint, Kilimanjaro) – Mozilla VPN now simplifies access and setup to its service for Linux users. This should ensure compatibility across different distributions thanks to sandboxed installation, reducing the risk of conflicts or vulnerabilities at the system level.

The app offers the same functionality regardless of distribution, ensuring a consistent experience without the need to change settings for different environments, with easy installation via Flathub or simple terminal commands. This makes it much easier to set up for less experienced users, particularly among desktop users who will appreciate its simple graphical user interface (GUI), while increasing the VPN's visibility.

Additionally, Flatpak apps run in isolated containers, in line with Mozilla's philosophy of putting privacy first and striving to eliminate vulnerabilities through security controls. This ethos remains one of the reasons why users have adopted Mozilla VPN in the past, coming from a trusted brand that has always positioned itself in the market as a completely non-profit company, fighting for a healthy web since the late 1990s.

(Image credit: Mozilla)

The new Flatpak approach seeks to reinforce the promise of “powerful privacy for maximum peace of mind” championed on its website, encouraging adoption by users who appreciate a deep commitment to open-source values.

Additionally, although Mozilla VPN Flatpak on Flathub is not currently verified, it is still an official upload managed by Mozilla, so it is considered reliable even without the badge.

These changes do not alter the technical chops of the Mozilla VPN offering, which remains a reliable and adequate solution for security and speed thanks to its app security audit, split tunnelling, multi-hop connections, support for the secure WireGuard protocol, and its Mullvad network underneath.

However, the VPN remains a technical underdog when compared to the best Linux VPN options that continue to top the rankings. It's also unlikely that the move will influence the opinions of users who have so far criticised the VPN, previously calling it an expensive repackaging of the Mullvad VPN network, with Mozilla’s higher prices ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 per month.

The choice to use Flatpak is also interesting, as it is still a relatively niche route for VPN distribution, and only Mozilla is officially supported by the provider so far.

Will other VPNs follow suit? That remains to be seen – some features on Flatpak may still be limited or require additional configuration. Indeed, VPNs such as NordVPN already offer command-line tools or configuration files that work on different distributions, without the data bloat of one-file-fits-all Flatpak.

One thing is for sure, though: Mozilla is competent and universally available. For some, this might well be enough.

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• The latest Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update has added a Battle Retry option so players can quickly retry a failed battle
• Patch 1.4.0 has implemented frame generation and low latency on compatible Nvidia and Intel GPUs
• More quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes have also been introduced

Developer Sandfall Interactive has released a new Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update that adds a bunch of quality-of-life improvements, and most notably, a Battle Retry option.

"We’re SUPER excited to bring you the Battle Retry option in this update, which has been one of our most requested QoL additions!" the developer said in the Version 1.4.0 patch notes.

Instead of requiring players to reload their save after defeat, this new feature will now appear in a pop-up window, allowing them to quickly retry the battle.

In addition, the update has implemented frame generation and low latency on compatible NVIDIA and Intel GPUs, for smoother gameplay and lower input lag, but Sandfall is still working on adding AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).

"We are still exploring support for FSR, but we need more time to work on it. Stay tuned for more updates on that in a future patch!" Sandfall said.

Among a host of bug fixes, visual improvements, and other quality-of-life changes, players will now find that the Pictos menu will clearly display the Lumina cost of each ability for better battle planning.

Another neat addition includes an autoplay feature for dialogues outside cutscenes, which can be toggled in the settings and during dialogues. You can check out the full patch notes below.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Version 1.4.0 Patch notes

Performance and Visuals

• DLSS & XeSS Enhancements: Added Frame Generation and Low Latency Mode support for both DLSS and XeSS (compatible GPUs only). Enjoy smoother gameplay and lower input lag!

Quality of Life Improvements

• Battle Retry Prompt: A new pop-up window appears after defeat, giving you the option to quickly retry the battle.
• Lumina Cost Display: The Pictos menu now clearly displays the Lumina cost of each ability for better planning.
• Autoplay Dialogue: Added an optional autoplay feature for dialogues outside cutscenes. You can toggle it in the settings and during dialogues.
• Separate Volume Sliders: Audio settings now lets you independently adjust the volume for exploration and combat phases.

Accessibility

• Added icons to Lune’s Stains to improve readability and accessibility for colorblind players.

Combat

• Lune's "Thermal Transfer" skill will no longer grant an extra turn without meeting the Stain consumption requirements
• Characters will no longer gain immortality when using the Second Chance pictos combined with Healing Boon and Protecting Death

Misc

• Fixed the Rocher holding a crystal occasionally despawning after reentering the Stone Wave Cliffs
• Fixed some players being teleported behind the Monolith upon loading a save
• Fixed Gameplay modifiers being applied to a New Game save when enabled on other saves
• Fixed landing as Esquie without the party spawning, leading to input loss
• Fixed the Fog on Flying Manor covering the screen and blocking the view on Steam Deck

Achievements

• Fixed journals vanishing after loading a Save File that was created at the exact moment of picking up that journal
• The following two trophies should now pop for you when you load your save if you were effected by these bugs:
  • Fixed "Expeditioner" and "Trailbreaker" achievements not unlocking if the characters reach a level higher than 33 or 66 after a battle
  • Fixed 'Connoisseur' and 'Follow The Trail' achievements not unlocking after collecting all required items on some savefiles

Environmental Polish

• Various environmental bugfixes, tweaks and visual polish across multiple levels for a more immersive experience.

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If you are a fan of old sitcoms, you’ll know it’s the 40th anniversary of NBC’s The Golden Girls, and to celebrate, Hulu is now streaming all seven seasons (finally). Running from 1985-1992, the hit comedy told the story of four middle-aged women living together in Miami, which was basically the coastal precursor to Sex and the City. It wiped the floor with its competition at the Emmys for seven years in a row, and even if you’ve only seen a few minutes of it, it’s easy to see why its 95% fan Rotten Tomatoes rating from the critics has been earned.

I’m sure you’re thinking that it’s better to spend your free time catching up with other Hulu shows like The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but I’m here to convince you otherwise. Sure, all of these shows (and many more) are among the best Hulu shows available to stream at the moment, but there’s going to be so much time available to revel in them. You never know when something is going to be snatched away from one of the best streaming services, so take the opportunity to become a Golden Girls aficionado while you can.

Why am I hardballing this so much? Having watched many, many TV shows in my time, I firmly believe that The Golden Girls is the only one in existence to truly be both ahead of its time and timeless. Where so many shows are now afraid to take risks and speak their minds, my awesome foursome went where many still don’t dare to go. Still not convinced? Let me break it down for you.

The Golden Girls is Hulu’s best streamable show of all time, don’t even fight me

Let’s set the scene. Beautifully sarcastic Dorothy (Bea Arthur), sexual free spirit Blanche (Rue McClanahan), naive yet lovable Rose (Betty White) and Dorothy’s no-nonsense mother Sophia (Estelle Getty) all find themselves in a Miami house share as they enter their “middle age”. As their friendship deepens, the women see each other through all of life's ups and downs, resulting in some of the best comedic writing and timing ever committed to screen. There’s also the banging theme tune shown above too, which is another all-timer contender.

If you’re not familiar with our casts’ names, they were each heavy hitters in the comedic TV space before teaming up for The Golden Girls, and you’ll most definitely know White from films like The Proposal, You Again and the English dub of Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo.

The fact our leading ladies have a fair bit of life experience between them, the range for storylines was endless. While this sometimes explored inappropriate affairs, love triangles, health scares and gossip over a cheesecake, they also took on many social issues. They tackled HIV at the height of the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ relationships, interracial marriage, disability, and antisemitism with outcomes that have aged better than most of what we see on screen now. There is so much heart in the humor here, and the care for its craft really shows.

On top of this, the bond between Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche in particular is the kind of friendship you dream of having growing up. None of them should technically get along on paper, and there’s no chance they would have crossed paths if it wasn’t for the fact they needed somewhere to live. But as life has a habit of doing, what’s meant for you won’t pass you by, with the trio proving that living is a beautiful yet complicated thing. They can be caring, but also give as good as they get (nobody wants to be at the receiving end of a Dorothy zinger).

I first found the show when I was around 11 years old, and I still know all of the words by heart as well as any YouTube compilation video. The Golden Girls undoubtedly shaped my view of how I saw the world, and alongside helping me to be unarguably hilarious, I think it made sure I was empathetic to what someone else might be experiencing. Many people are marginalised by life, but they don’t have to be disrespected. If an 1980s sitcom can remind us of that better than many big influences in life, why wouldn’t you watch it?

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• A 27-inch smart TV that's also a portable display and a tablet
• HDMI and USB-C inputs, device mirroring, and a 4-hour battery
• Available to order for $1,299 (about about £980 / AU$2,000)

If you've ever wished you could hold your smart TV in your hand and roll it around the room as well as stick it on the wall or sit it on a nearby surface, then LG's StanbyME 2 could be just what you're looking for. The newly updated StanByME is a very different kind of TV from the rest of the LG range: it's a TV that thinks it's a tablet, or maybe it's a tablet that thinks it's a TV.

Let's start with the normal bit first. The StanbyME 2 is a 27-inch smart TV with a 60Hz refresh rate and a QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 with AI picture optimization.

You can use it like a normal TV, but it can do much more. Pop it off the stand and you can watch wirelessly for up to four hours, which is better than you get from most of the best portable projectors that have batteries.

If you sit it on your lap, you can take advantage of a 27-inch touchscreen to draw or play games. Or you can hang it on the wall and use it as a picture frame (or just watch TV from there). Or you can roll it around on its heavyweight wheeled stand.

There are three TVs in this photo. How many did you spot? (Image credit: LG)LG StanbyMe 2: key features and pricing

The StanbyME is a webOS TV with all the usual smart features for accessing the best streaming services, and it also has USB-C and HDMI inputs – plus there's AirPlay and Google Cast so you can use it as a display for other devices. It works in both portrait and landscape mode, and it has both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support with "virtual 9.1.2 surround sound".

You can even recharge it from a power bank if there's enough juice: external recharging needs a 65W power supply, which lots of the best power banks can offer now.

I could actually see myself using this: 27 inches is the same size as my much-missed massive iMac, and that size is a really good display upgrade from a laptop. Being able to use it as an TV in a bedroom or kitchen to amuse the kids is a great feature, since you can then just hide it away afterwards. ,

The voice recognition could be especially useful for the kitchen, for when you're cooking and have messy hands. I'd describe it as 'transportable' rather than fully portable, though: at 9.5lbs without the stand, it's pretty hefty.

It should be fairly future-proof: LG promises software updates for up to five years.

The downside, which you've probably noted, is the price. Not only is the StanByME 2 quite expensive, but it's much more expensive than the first generation StanByMe TV. The StanByME 2 is $300 more than the previous model, taking the sticker price to a pretty hefty $1,299 – the same as an Apple iMac M3, and that's got a computer inside it as well.

The StanByMe is available now in the US and will launch in the UK, Germany, France and Spain in August 2025. Pricing for those countries hasn't been announced just yet.

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• Skechers has a new range of sneakers to help parents keep track of their child
• The Find My Skechers shoes have a hidden slot for an Apple AirTag
• It lets you locate your kid using Apple’s Find My app

Many parents want to keep track of their children’s whereabouts, particularly if they’re visiting an unfamiliar location, but that’s not always an easy thing to do. Now a new range of sneakers from Skechers offers a novel solution: each pair contains a hidden compartment designed to house an Apple AirTag tracker.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen AirTags hidden in a set of footwear, but the difference here is that the Find My Skechers line is designed specifically for kids. Each pair comes with a small cutout in the heel made to store an AirTag – to access it, you just lift the insole and the webbed liner underneath it. This reveals a screw-shut AirTag holder that conceals the tracker, and Skechers says your child won’t feel it while wearing the shoes.

Once the AirTag is in place, you can track its location using Apple’s Find My app. The idea is that the hidden compartment will protect the AirTag without interfering with its wireless capabilities.

The Find My Skechers sneakers are available in a range of sizes and designs. They’re also machine washable, although we’d recommend removing the AirTag before you toss these shoes in with your laundry.

Better protection

(Image credit: Skechers)

Knowing your child’s location is obviously an important concern for a lot of parents, and there are devices that let you clip an AirTag or other tracker to your child before they leave the house. But there’s always the possibility that these products could be damaged or tampered with by the child.

Skechers’ new sneakers could avoid that by burying the AirTag inside the shoe itself, making it tougher for the child to get to and offering better protection from the elements. They also lack any branding that would hint that there’s an AirTag inside them, enabling the wearer to blend in and avoid the gaze of people who might target them based on the AirTag connection.

But the question remains over whether Find My Skechers are a good idea. From a quick survey of TechRadar writers who are raising kids of their own, the point was made that toddlers and young children are likely to grow out of these shoes quickly. At $52 to $58 a pop, that’s a cost that quickly adds up when you need to buy new ones every six months.

As well as that, kids at the older end of the target market might have phones of their own anyway, which can be used to track their location. That means there are question marks over how necessary Skechers sneakers are, at least for some parents.

Find My Skechers start at $52 per pair, and are available for both toddlers and young children. We’ll have to see how effective they are, but they're likely to turn parents’ heads one way or another.

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• The Pixel 10 could cost the same as the Pixel 9, according to a new leak
• Preorders are tipped to open up right away
• These new devices will be unveiled on August 20

We're seeing plenty 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. The latest leaks to reach us cover pricing and on-sale availability, and it's good news in both cases.

First up, Android Headlines has apparently got hold of some inside information on pricing. From these figures, the starting prices will apparently be $799 (Pixel 10), $999 (Pixel 10 Pro), $1,199 (Pixel 10 Pro XL), and $1,799 (Pixel 10 Pro Fold).

Those are the same as we saw for the Google Pixel 9 phones, except for the Pixel 10 Pro XL – but it seems that the cheapest version of that phone will have 256GB of storage this year, rather than 128GB, which means it does match the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

In other regions, that would mean the Pixel 10 will likely cost £799 / AU$1,349, while the Pixel 10 Pro should set you back £999 / AU$1,699. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, meanwhile, should again cost £1,799 / AU $2,699.

We heard a couple of weeks ago that Pixel pricing would stay the same, but we only had prices in euros. An earlier leak from April suggested certain models might cost more or less, but this latest information points to price freezes across the board.

When can you buy one?

Google has already shown off the Google Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Google)

With a Made by Google event in the calendar for August, Google itself has already given us a glimpse of one of the phones we can expect to see – but it hasn't revealed when these handsets are actually going to be available to buy.

According to a source speaking to GSMArena, the Pixel 10 phones will be available to preorder the same day, August 20. There might be some variation between the different models though, which was the case last year.

Other recent rumors have suggested the Pixel 10 series is going to be the first set of Android phones to introduce MagSafe-style wireless charging, while we've also seen multiple unofficial renders hinting at the designs of these devices.

It's not just the Pixel 10 phones we're expecting to see at the August 20 event either. It looks very likely that we'll also be getting the Google Pixel Watch 4 and the Google Pixel Buds 2a – and we will of course be covering the event live.

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• Microsoft says CapEx could climb 24% to $30 billion next quarter
• Nearly half of this is destined to CPU and GPU spend
• Azure cloud business continues to perform strongly thanks to efficiency gains

Microsoft has confirmed plans to invest over $30 billion in capital expenditures next quarter alone, making it the most expensive quarter for the company to date.

If Microsoft follows through, it would mark a 24% increase over its most recent financial quarter, during which the company allocated $24.2 billion to capital spending.

Although more than half went to long-lived assets with more than 15 years' monetization potential, most of the remainder was dedicated purely to CPUs and GPUs for growing AI workloads, highlighting not only the scale of the potential, but how much interest Microsoft has, when it has the budget to allocate billions to AI.

Microsoft spending big

Microsoft's spending spree forms part of a race to expand AI and cloud capacity as it continues to battle it out with Amazon (currently the world's most popular cloud provider) and Google Cloud.

In terms of fiscal performance, the company's FY25 Q4 saw an 18% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, to $76.4 billion.

Among its most lucrative businesses, unsurprisingly, were cloud-related products. Microsoft 365 Commercial and Consumer cloud revenue climbed 18% and 20% each, with Intelligent Cloud revenue up 26% to $29.9 billion and revenue for Azure and other cloud services up a staggering 39%.

Even though businesses everywhere want to stay on top of the AI curve, Microsoft wasn't able to impress so much with PC shipments. Windows OEM and Devices revenue only saw a 3% rise.

"Cloud and AI is the driving force of business transformation across every industry and sector," CEO Satya Nadella explained.

CFO Amy Hood explained that, even though Microsoft Cloud gross margin had dropped two percentage points to 68%, performance was better than anticipated thanks to "continued efficiency gains."

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a hit, at least compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and every Fold that came before. Samsung says the “Galaxy Z Fold7 received the most preorders in Z Fold history in the U.S,” even though this is the most expensive phone I’ve ever seen at retail, with a $1,999 starting price. I’m not sure what spurred this interest in foldables, but I’m on board and hoping Samsung uses this momentum to push forward with a big Galaxy tri-fold next year.

It wasn’t just the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that was popular among early adopters. Samsung also says its Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been selling briskly, and the two models together combined achieved more than a 25% increase in preorders versus last year’s Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 costs about the same as last year’s Z Flip 6, depending on your region, but it comes with a much larger cover display, a sticking point that held previous Galaxy Z Flip phones back. The phone also uses a Samsung Exynos 2500 processor, instead of the bespoke Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset found in the rest of Samsung’s flagship phones.

(Image credit: Future / Cas Kulk)

Samsung says that preorders from mobile carriers in the US saw an even greater jump, with advanced sales up 60% over last year’s models. Right now, AT&T will give you a Galaxy Z Fold 7 for 55% off the full price if you pay for it on a 36-month payment plan. That means you’ll pay $25 per month until 2028 if you want to buy this big foldable. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available for free from all three major US carriers, with a new contract agreement.

How the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is better (and worse) than the Z Fold 6

It’s mindblowing that the expensive Galaxy Z Fold 7 is beating its predecessor so handily in early sales. Samsung says the Z Fold 7 is outpacing the Z Fold 6 by nearly 50% since it landed on store shelves on July 25.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers the same 200MP camera sensor as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, one of our favorite camera phones. That bridges the camera divide that has separated foldable phones from flat phones, and finally makes the Galaxy Z Fold a serious contender among the best phones you can buy.

Even the coralred Galaxy Z Flip 7 is selling well, according to Samsung (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 also gives up the S Pen, a surprisingly anti-Ultra move by Samsung, but perhaps the right call. Previous Galaxy Z Fold phones could use a special version of the Samsung stylus, but it had to be the Z Fold edition of the S Pen or else it could scratch the delicate folding display inside.

I’ve reviewed and extensively used just about every Samsung Galaxy foldable phone for the past four years, and I’m rooting for the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 because, frankly, Samsung finally listened to me (and its customers).

After years of awkward designs and a cover display that looked more like a narrow bowling lane than a smartphone screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 design is a triumph. It looks and feels like a typical, compact smartphone when it’s closed, but it gives you an iPad mini-sized screen when it’s open.

Samsung's success is because of... me? (and also all the other customers)

The older Galaxy Z Fold 5 was too narrow (Image credit: Future)

Samsung likewise attributes its success to listening to me (and its customers). Samsung VP Drew Blackard says, “we’ve addressed consumer feedback year after year and have arrived at the kind of experience you can’t get on any other device.” I’m guessing that feedback included 'why is my phone so heavy' and 'why does the cover screen look so weird,' because those are the big improvements this year versus last.

Or maybe it’s just time for foldable phones to have their moment. Let’s be real – AI features aren’t selling smartphones. Phone makers have needed a new hook to get people interested. It seemed like foldable displays could be that hook, but buyers hesitated, likely because they were afraid the phones weren’t durable, or weren’t worth the premium price tag.

The price has climbed higher, but so has the durability rating. Samsung’s IP48 rating means the phone still can’t handle dust and fine particles, but it’s totally water-resistant for a dip in the pool.

And the phone may be more durable than Samsung lets on. I’m not a fan of Jerry Rig Everything on YouTube – I question his unscientific testing and claims – but his inability to destroy or even crack the screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the most compelling teardown videos I’ve seen. He bends the phone backward, and not only does it NOT crack – it doesn’t break at all! The inner display looks perfectly normal after his abuse.

Time for Samsung to unleash the foldable beast

Great job, Samsung! Now do one of these. (Image credit: Future)

Now I want to see Samsung unlock its foldable potential. I’ve been skeptical of Samsung’s foldables, mainly due to uncorrected mistakes – the narrow front screen on the Z Fold line and the small, useless cover display on the Z Flip phones. Those mistakes are gone, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that sales are higher than ever.

Samsung should launch its triple-folding phone as soon as possible. There have been rumors that Samsung has a Huawei Mate XT competitor in the works, and now is a great time to show the full force of Samsung’s design power. I would love to see Samsung capitalize on the Z Fold 7’s popularity and show up next July with a new Samsung G Fold, the rumored name for the triple-screen foldable.

It will cost a fortune, probably twice as much as today’s Z Fold 7. It will also be spectacular, with Samsung’s latest thin design and best-in-class productivity software. Maybe if it’s good enough, it will put an end to all of the fervor over AI features and get people excited about new hardware and phone designs again.

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