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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #1239).

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 #1240) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1240) - 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 #1240) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1240) - 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 #1240) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• P

• A

• W

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

Quordle today (game #1240) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1240, are…

• LEAPT
• PRISM
• ADMIN
• WHINE

Life ADMIN is something that becomes increasingly time consuming as you get older.

When you’re a kid, no admin is required at all, then when you get a job or go to college the admin starts increasing until you reach a point where you have to take time off to deal with all the admin.

However, if you are a super organised person and you do your admin meticulously as you go along, rather than putting it off or forgetting about it, then you don’t have to take days off just to deal with all your admin. Or if you’re really rich you can get someone else to do your admin and you can go back to being a kid.

Anyway, I digress, WHINE aside this felt quite an easy Quordle, with just 15 unique letters. Right now for some admin…

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1240) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1240, are…

• MASON
• GAVEL
• WOVEN
• ALLOY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
• Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #736).

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 #737) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FIGHT
• QUIT
• RESOLVE
• FLIGHT
• TOUR
• FREEZE
• MARIONETTE
• SPIRIT
• FAWN
• HOTEL
• GRIT
• MOUSE
• TIMEOUT
• ELEPHANT
• GLITCH
• CAR

NYT Connections today (game #737) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Holiday plans
• GREEN: Determination
• BLUE: Online issues
• PURPLE: Walt’s world

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 #737) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: THINGS TO BOOK FOR A VACATION 
• GREEN: METTLE 
• BLUE: BAD THINGS FOR A WEBSITE TO DO 
• PURPLE: FIGURES IN CLASSIC DISNEY ANIMATED FILMS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #737) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #737, are…

• YELLOW: THINGS TO BOOK FOR A VACATION CAR, FLIGHT, HOTEL, TOUR
• GREEN: METTLE FIGHT, GRIT, RESOLVE, SPIRIT
• BLUE: BAD THINGS FOR A WEBSITE TO DO FREEZE, GLITCH, QUIT, TIMEOUT
• PURPLE: FIGURES IN CLASSIC DISNEY ANIMATED FILMS ELEPHANT, FAWN, MARIONETTE, MOUSE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I wasted two mistakes trying to create a group that was about fleeing or opting out of a situation (TIME OUT, QUIT, FLIGHT...) and after getting “one away” twice convinced myself I was on the right track – only to get the “groups of four” notification indicating I was far from it.

Refocusing, I got THINGS TO BOOK FOR A VACATION, but then lost another thinking I was putting together a computer-based group including MOUSE along with QUIT and FREEZE. 

Subsequently, I’m annoyed that I didn’t see BAD THINGS FOR A WEBSITE TO DO, as these are curses that I constantly have to deal with in my role as head of the family IT department (a position no one else wanted and that I would like to resign from).

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, June 16, game #736)

• YELLOW: EXPRESSIONLESS BLANK, FLAT, INANIMATE, WOODEN
• GREEN: DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS BRACKET, CURTAIN, HOOK, ROD
• BLUE: WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH COASTER, GARNISH, GLASS, STRAW
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION BUSBOY, CARBON, SHIPSHAPE, TRAINEE

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #470).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Make it work

NYT Strands today (game #471) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• CUTE
• FIRE
• ANGEL
• COVEN 
• TREE
• COURT

NYT Strands today (game #471) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #471) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #471) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #471, are…

• FINAGLE
• FINESSE
• CONTRIVE
• ENGINEER
• NEGOTIATE
• SPANGRAM: FIGURE OUT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

This felt like a really tricky Strands, but also a hugely enjoyable one to unravel.

Unable to work out the kinds of words we were looking for, I found a handful of incorrect words as I searched for professions and ended up taking two hints. The words I was given, FINAGLE and FINESSE, seemed to be about changing and refining things, so I went in search of similar.

After weedling out CONTRIVE and the Spangram I was just about able to whittle my way to the end of the search and the satisfying emotion of completion.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, June 16, game #470)

• ETUDE
• SUITE
• MINUET
• NOCTURNE
• SONATA
• PRELUDE
• SPANGRAM: PIANO PIECES

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.

• Chord has officially launched the elite Suzi Pre and Suzi Amp
• Both were shown in prototype only at High End Munich 2024
• Chord lists five possible configurations – here's the breakdown

Love a TechRadar heritage review? Me too! Grab something refreshing and check out our Chord Chordette review from 2010 (what a name) for five minutes.

Back to the news at hand now, and although High End Munich 2025 saw UK hi-fi specialist Chord tease something "groundbreaking", it's the company's 2024 two-strong prototype reveal that's finally available to buy now – and that I want to shine a light on.

I don't actually know if the pair were named after Suzi Quatro, but that is what I want to believe. Furthermore, anyone who plans on discrediting my assumption has a heart of stone, because she rocks. (Sorry, eds. More of this throughout).

Suzi Amp with the Hugo 2 (Image credit: Chord)Suzi Pre and Suzi Amp: specs, pricing, Quatro references…

Breakdown? Of course. As you'd expect, the Suzi Pre preamp and Suzi Amp stereo power amplifier can be used in isolation, or in combination as a pre/power amp, but Chord explains that the 30-watt Suzi Amp can also seamlessly integrate with the company's flagship Hugo 2 DAC (although not the minor step-down Qutest model).

And there's more. When the Suzi Amp is paired with the aforementioned Hugo 2 DAC and the company's 2go streamer, it transforms into a streaming amplifier complete with Roon Endpoint and DLNA/UPnP connectivity, plus the potential for 2TB maximum onboard solid state storage, using the 2go’s twin MicroSD slots.

But let's keep a knockin' with Chord's full Suzi concept guide, including five potential configurations. Yes, I'd kind of hoped for a 48 crash too, but five will do…

• Suzi Pre: a standalone analog preamp with a phono stage and headphone output
• Suzi Amp: a standalone stereo power amp
• Suzi Pre/Suzi Amp: a compact pre/power amplifier with phono stage and headphone out
• Suzi Amp with a Hugo 2: a DAC/amplifier (add USB-C/B inputs with the Multiplexer accessory)
• Suzi Amp with a Hugo 2 and 2go: a streaming DAC/amp with up to 2 TB microSD storage

Should you buy both? Well, your mama won't like me (and neither will your bank balance) but there's plenty to love – they make me smile, at any rate.

The Suzi Pre boasts a premium built-in MM/MC phono stage (for connectivity with the best turntables, irrespective of your deck's cartridge) with selectable gain and impedance, accessible via top-panel controls or the bundled remote control. It features both 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs, three RCA inputs, one RCA output, and a 12V DC output. A central polychromatic control sphere takes care of volume and input selection.

The Suzi Amp power amplifier incorporates Chord Electronics' proprietary ULTIMA amplifier topology, boasting 30 watts of stereo power in a remarkably compact design (so it's hardly too big for your home). It features 4mm banana loudspeaker outputs, RCA inputs and a removable solid aluminum cover block exposing connections for the direct integration of the Suzi Pre or Hugo 2.

Chord tells me that front-panel polychromatic buttons control power and the AV bypass feature, and that casework venting should regulate the temperature. A 12 V DC output is also there, for compatibility with other Chord Electronics devices. A headphone pass-through (3.5mm and 6.35mm) is also active when the Suzi Amp is connected to the Suzi Pre or Hugo 2.

Suzi Pre and Suzi Amp, in black (also available in silver finish) (Image credit: Chord )

If you're considering the Hugo 2 and Suzi Amp combination (good shout – me too), Chord Electronics is keen to emphasize that it also offers a separate USB multiplexer expansion accessory. This connects to the Hugo 2’s dual micro USB inputs and adds USB-B data inputs plus USB-C data and charging.

The Suzi Amp is even supplied with a charging bridge accessory for use with the Hugo 2 DAC. Said charging bridge provides juicing power to the Hugo 2 when the Suzi Amp is switched off, keeping the Hugo 2 fully charged for portable use and offering a convenient 5 V USB-C power output for devices.

Let's head down the devil gate drive of pricing, shall we? Suzi Pre comes with a list price of £1,995 (so around $2,700 or AU$4,150, as a rough guide). The Suzi Amp is the Daytona demon of the duo though – the wild one, if you will – in that it is priced at £3,400 (or around $4,600 or AU$7,000, before duties). That USB Multiplexer? It's a snip at £300.

All are available now. My advice? Evie, Evie, let your hair down…

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• A PC-to-PC migration feature has been found in a new Windows 10 preview
• It’s not enabled in testing, though, and is hidden in the background
• However, Windows Insiders have got it working in a fashion, and we could see it arrive before long

Microsoft is readying a PC-to-PC migration feature for Windows 10 that was previously spotted in testing (with Windows 11, which it should also debut with), and it could be with us soon.

Of course, bringing in such a capability fully makes sense because Windows 10 reaches the end of the line for support in October 2025, so Microsoft wants to make it as easy as possible for those on the older OS to switch to a new PC running Windows 11 (assuming they can’t upgrade their current computer to the latter).

This functionality is part of the existing Backup app in Windows 10, and it’s called ‘Transfer information to a new PC’ – though I should note it’s not fully in testing yet, and that may well be a placeholder name.

Leaker PhantomOfEarth discovered the feature in the latest Windows 10 build in the Release Preview channel (version 19045.6029).

Unsurprisingly, Windows Migration is coming to Windows 10 to make it easier to move to 11 as we get closer to EoL.The migration flow in the Backup app is hidden in today's RP CU (19045.6029), can be enabled with feature ID 56242779. pic.twitter.com/23q3F1kl0mJune 12, 2025

Windows Latest noticed the above post on X, and enabled the migration feature itself, observing that it doesn’t work yet – which is hardly surprising, as it’s not officially live even in testing right now.

However, PhantomOfEarth showed us a couple of screenshots of the interface on X as you can see above, and Windows Latest has been playing around with what is in place for this feature, determining how it works.

To move data (and settings) from your current Windows 10 PC to a new Windows 11 device, both computers need to be on the same network. That can mean they’re connected wirelessly, or possibly also via a wired connection (support for the latter isn’t certain yet, but it seems likely enough to me).

You then use a code to confirm the link between the two PCs (ensuring you have the right target device), select the data you wish to migrate (it’s not yet clear exactly what options will be available), and the transfer will proceed.

Analysis: The potential scrapheap on the horizon

(Image credit: Marjan Apostolovic / Shutterstock)

Normally, with a feature that’s hidden in a test build like this – one that must be enabled using a Windows configuration utility – I’d expect to have a fair bit of a wait for it to actually arrive. Remember, it must, of course, be live in testing first before it reaches the finished version of Windows 10.

However, in this case, it’s worth noting that the Release Preview channel is the final stage of preview builds before release (as the name indicates). Furthermore, when enabled, while the PC-to-PC migration ability warns that it’s still “in user testing” (by which Microsoft means internal testing within the company) and doesn’t work properly, the text adds that the “full version [is] coming soon.”

So, we should get this sooner rather than later, which as I already touched on, makes sense. Mainly because Microsoft is absolutely going to want this feature in place for when Windows 10 reaches its End of Life, which is only four months away, in order to help folks migrate to a new Windows 11 PC (if they can’t upgrade to the newer OS, due to their current device failing to meet the hardware requirements).

Of course, as you may well have noticed, Microsoft has been engaged in a wider campaign to push the sales of new Windows 11 PCs (especially Copilot+ devices), and that has proved controversial. Accusations have been levelled at the OS maker for letting environmental concerns slide, and a potentially towering mountain of scrapped PCs heading to landfill, unless Windows 10 PC owners can find an alternative to buying a new computer come October 2025.

There is one official escape route: paying for an additional year of security updates for Windows 10, though that’s just kicking the can down the line some way. However, of late, there’s been a lot of focus on upgrading to Linux instead, and campaigns to switch away from the Windows ecosystem entirely as a way to keep older hardware alive and kicking.

In some ways, it’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out, but the potential environmental impact is not a comforting prospect. My hope is that Microsoft may see fit to provide extended security updates for beyond a year for consumers running Windows 10, without charging a fortune for the privilege – though I’m not all that hopeful of this becoming a reality.

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Two years after the Resident Evil 4 remake, Capcom has finally revealed the ninth mainline installment in its beloved franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, which looks set to take the series back to where it all started.

There’s only so much we can dissect from the three-minute reveal trailer Capcom released at Summer Game Fest, especially since most of the tease consists of rapidly flashing images.

However, the return to a rundown Raccoon City suggests one thing; there is no way our favorite RPD rookie, Leon S. Kennedy, won't be involved in some capacity, whether that's as a playable character, or one who serves an Ethan Winters to Chris Redfield-style role as a secondary protagonist, or perhaps even the main protagonist.

There's a lot to dive into, with very plausible rumors and supposed leaks that corroborate my predictions, but if we're talking about a return to Raccoon City, Leon is the first character that comes to mind. It makes little sense – and would be a huge missed opportunity – if this weren't the case; if you've played Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4, you'll be aware of the close connection Leon has with the nuked, once zombie-infested city, even if it's a traumatic memory.

I'll be very shocked if I and those sharing rumors are wrong, because from my perspective, it seems pretty concrete that it'll happen.

Recent leaks and rumors have aligned with the reveal trailer

I'm banking on either one of these two being our RPD hero... (Image credit: Capcom)

While it's always a good idea to take rumors and leaks with a grain of salt, the ones coming from Dusk Golem on X (who's had a pretty good track record with RE leaks previously) look bang on the money.

The claims here are that Leon S. Kennedy is the main protagonist of Resident Evil Requiem, even more so than Grace Ashcroft (the daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft), who features through most of the reveal trailer. Dusk Golem suggests that we’ll see Leon as marketing continues to ramp up until the game's launch – and while I've previously thought claims from Golem were wide of the mark, that's now changed.

Before its reveal at the very end of Summer Game Fest, Golem teased the game's title name and the 'suggestion' that it may be the closing reveal after Capcom's prank, which hinted at a reveal on a later date.

If that's not enough, a slightly older tweet addressed users' suspicions that a second legacy Resident Evil character would appear alongside Leon – while I still personally think that will be the case, with either Ada or Jill joining the fray, Golem gave yet another hint that we would be seeing a new character, saying: "I mean, why not start a horror story with a fresh face?" instantly suggesting that there's some legitimacy here.

A lot of people think Leon not being the only playable character in RE9 means someone familiar, but I never said that. I mean, why not start a horror story with a fresh face?June 3, 2025

I'm actually very amused by the Resident Evil 9 teasing, but hey. I think its very likely the show closer, be a pretty fun requiem to the whole thing.June 6, 2025

Leon will play the biggest role in Re9uiem. https://t.co/ZZmcjjUhtLJune 7, 2025

Again, I'm not saying this is an absolute certainty (as I've said, I'm almost certain), but if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on there being something to these rumors. Since our new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, is an FBI analyst, it would be hard for me to see her going in solo to what is supposedly Raccoon City in its aftermath of an experimental thermobaric missile, and meeting deadly threats that appear to be ones we've never seen before in the franchise.

You could say a character like Ethan Winters was capable of holding his own as he navigates the nightmarish Baker house, although both RE7 and Village ended with Chris stepping in to take care of matters. I expect to see the same trend here with Requiem, especially since we're going back to RE7's director, Koshi Nakanishi.

It won't be the end of the world if Leon or the original characters aren't involved (although it would be strange), but I can almost guarantee that if they are, the hype and anticipation from fans will be monumental.

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• Roku has new home page layout to make key sections faster to find
• Very much a work in progress and likely to change again
• You can opt out if you're offered the update

If your Roku TV home screen appears to have been redesigned overnight, don't worry: it just means you're one of the chosen few who get to see what might be the next evolution of the Roku TV interface.

As The Verge reports, Roku is testing a rejigged version of the home page with a small number of Roku users in order to assess whether or not they like it. The firm is "trying some different approaches" to the functionality of the home page, Roku's Preston Smalley explained. "We’re definitely trying to see how much control people want, but that's something we want to hear from customers on."

Moving things into the main grid means a simpler sidebar (Image credit: Roku)What's changing in the Roku TV home screen

Although this is only a test, it does indicate the most likely changes coming to your home page in the not too distant future. The first thing you'll notice is that the home button on your remote takes you straight into the main grid rather than to the sidebar, which is where it takes you in the current version.

Live TV and Featured Free have been moved from the sidebar into the main grid to make them more obvious; Roku says that these "compelling and delightful destinations" weren't being used by many people, and they expect more prominent placement to mean more people being compelled and delighted.

The Quick Access section is designed to make it easier to see your favorite apps, but for now it's automated: The Verge says that you can't manually remove apps or add different ones.

Underneath Quick Access there's "The Best Across Your Streaming Services" which is the new home for the Live TV and Featured Free options as well as Subscriptions and For You, which as you'd expect is where you'll find personalized recommendations.

This is very much a work in progress so if you've got it on your Roku TV it may change again during the testing phase – and if you're one of the chosen few it's not compulsory, so you can opt out of the test if you'd rather wait for the final, finished version.

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• Hacker posts new thread on a dark web forum, claiming to have stolen millions of records from T-Mobile
• The records included names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other PII
• However T-Mobile says the archive has nothing to do with the company or its customers

Hackers have recently shared a new database they claim contains sensitive customer information stolen from the American telecommunications giant, T-Mobile. However, the company denied any connection to the archive, saying it had nothing to do with it, or its clients.

A Cybernews report claims the unnamed cybercriminals leaked a database containing fresh intel (obtained as early as June 1, 2025).

The database contained 64 million lines, holding valuable customer information such as full names, dates of birth, tax IDs, postal addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, device IDs, cookie IDs, and IP addresses.

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False claims

This kind of data is extremely valuable to cybercriminals, who can use it to create specially crafted, personalized phishing emails, tricking the victims into sharing login credentials, banking info, and other vital data. These attacks can result in identity theft, wire fraud, and ransomware attacks.

Responding to a Cybernews inquiry, T-Mobile said the data had nothing to do with it: “Any reports of a T-Mobile data breach are inaccurate. We have reviewed the sample data provided and can confirm the data does not relate to T-Mobile or our customers," the company's representative told the publication.

The Cybernews team analyzed the data, but could not confirm its authenticity. It said that some data, such as phone numbers, appeared in earlier T-Mobile links, but said it was impossible to verify the archive with 100% accuracy. We also don’t know if 64 million lines means 64 million people.

“If this data is legitimate, exposing 64M lines of highly sensitive information poses a serious threat of identity theft/fraud, surveillance, and further, better-targeted attacks on customers,” the team said.

This is not the first time T-Mobile denied having been breached. Roughly a year ago, an infamous threat actor known as IntelBroker claimed to have broken into T-Mobile and stolen Source code, SQL files, Images, Terraform data, t-mobile.com certifications, and Siloprograms. T-Mobile denied the claims.

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• Microsoft Edge has introduced a new password management feature
• The tool is available as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription
• Administrators now have more control over users credential sharing

Microsoft Edge’s new built-in business-oriented secure password deployment feature has reached general availability.

This added browser feature helps keep credentials safe by preventing passwords from being shared with the wrong people - accidentally or otherwise.

Secure password deployment is now available to Microsoft Edge for Business users across the M365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 subscription options.

Prevent credential leakage

The secure password deployment tool allows users to autofill passwords on authorized websites to create a smooth login experience, but prevents users from viewing, editing, deleting- and most importantly, prevents the user from exporting their passwords.

"In many organizations today, employees often resort to sharing passwords via sticky notes or emails. This not only exposes sensitive credentials to unintended recipients, but also increases the risk of those passwords being forwarded or misused," Microsoft said in the announcement.

"Secure password deployment allows administrators to deploy encrypted shared passwords to a set of users within their organization. With this feature, users will receive the deployed passwords on their device and can seamlessly log into websites."

Passwords stored in the secure password deployment tool are encrypted using Microsoft Information Protection SDK, and tied to a user's Entra identity, allowing businesses to enforce access control policies.

Administrators can use the tool to apply highly granular configuration on browser settings for individual users or user groups. Administrators can begin using the tools by using the Microsoft 365 admin center to access the Edge management service, and then configuring an existing policy or creating a new policy, then heading to the Secure Password Deployment page via the Customization Settings tab.

"This integration brings the power of Microsoft's data protection platform directly into the Edge Management experience, giving administrators a seamless way to deploy credentials securely while aligning with Zero Trust principles and compliance requirements," Microsoft continued.

"By embedding the Protection SDK directly into Edge for Business, we extend Microsoft's data protection capabilities all the way to the endpoint—ensuring that sensitive information is safeguarded from configuration to consumption."

Via BleepingComputer

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It's my job to test coffee makers here at TechRadar, and I take it so seriously that I trained as a barista so that I can bring you the best advice when you're choosing a machine for your own kitchen.

I've tested some of the best espresso machines from big brands including De'Longhi, Jura, Breville, and Gaggia, and during that time I've got a pretty good feel for the factors that will make the biggest difference when you're brewing coffee at home.

Here I've picked the five things that matter most to me, and which I think you should bear in mind when researching your next big purchase. Most of this advice applies to bean-to-cup coffee makers, but there are some considerations (such as boiler type) that also apply to fully manual machines.

There are some factors you won't have a lot of choice over. For example, the overwhelming majority of bean-to-cup coffee machines use thermoblock heating systems. These are a good choice for making drinks at home because they heat quickly and accurately, but they don't allow you to brew coffee and steam milk simultaneously – the Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is a rare exception.

Of course, coffee is very personal, and you'll also have your own checklist of requirements when picking a machine for your home. For example, you might want an espresso machine that's capable of making cold-brew coffee, or one with an automatic milk frother. Which factors matter most to you? Let us know in the comments.

The vast majority of home espresso machines have grinders with stainless steel burrs (Image credit: Future)1. A quality grinder

If you're considering buying a bean-to-cup machine that has a coffee grinder built in, there are some important factors to consider.

First of all, Even if your coffee machine's grinder isn't great, it's better than buying coffee pre-ground. Coffee beans start to lose their aroma within minutes of grinding, so preparing them yourself is always the best option. That's because exposure to air causes coffee to degrade, and ground coffee has a much larger surface area to volume ratio than whole beans, so it loses its aromas much faster.

When you're looking at grinders, there should be one word in mind: consistency. You want all your coffee ground to the same-size particles, and that's down to the burrs. Pretty much all home espresso machines have stainless steel burrs, which tend to get hotter than ceramic, and become blunt faster, but since you're only grinding a small amount of coffee at a time, that's not likely to be a problem.

However, ceramic burrs are generally better for consistency at small grind sizes, which is what you want for espresso, so if you can find a home coffee machine with ceramic burrs, it's well worth investigating.

Pretty much all bean-to-cup espresso machines will let you adjust the grind size manually, even if they make suggestions or can do it automatically. You can usually do this using a dial on the side of the machine, or by rotating the bean hopper. Look for a machine that gives you fine control over the grind size; a small adjustment can be the difference between a shot of sour, over-extracted espresso and a perfectly balanced, sweet-tasting shot.

If you're choosing a bean-to-cup coffee machine, also check to see how easy is is to disassemble the grinder for cleaning. Over time, oils and debris from your coffee beans will build up on the burrs, which can affect its performance and the taste of your coffee (nobody wants rancid oil in their freshly ground coffee).

It might seem obvious that you should be able to take the grinder apart for thorough cleaning, but it's not always possible. Some coffee makers will come with instructions suggesting you should just give the top of the grinder a brush, but that's not enough for me. I want to get it properly clean.

The Jura J10 espresso machine has a tank that slots into the side for easy access, and comes with a good quality water filter that's easy to push into place (Image credit: Future)2. A water filter (or the ability to fit one)

Coffee is mostly water, so a filter to remove impurities that can affect the taste of your drink is always welcome. You don't want to remove all the minerals (distilled water prevents the sensors that detect the level of the water in the tank from working properly, and can make the coffee taste flat) but there's a happy medium.

Most of the espresso machines I've tested recently let you fit a water filter inside the tank. They're easy to attach, and either push or screw into place. However, the machine doesn't always come with one provided, which is a shame since some of them can cost half a month's salary. They can be expensive to buy separately, so take a look at how much they cost when picking a machine that uses them.

If your tap water is extremely hard, it's worth considering installing a filter under the sink, or using a jug with a filter to fill your coffee machine – and however hard it is, make sure to run the machine's descaling program regularly.

The Sage Barista Touch Impress comes with an extensive set of cleaning tools, including a blank filter basket for backwashing the group head (Image credit: Future)3. Proper cleaning functions

I've already mentioned cleaning the grinder, but I want to be able to clean the whole machine properly too – and that's not always easy.

After testing a coffee maker, I always run the full gamut of cleaning programs so it's as close to mint condition as possible, and it's interesting to see how much variety there is. Commercial espresso machines have a backwash function, which involves putting a cleaning tablet or a scoop of powder in a blank basket (with no holes), fitting it in the portafilter handle, and then running a cycle to thoroughly clean all residue from the brewing group.

It get things truly clean, but so far I've only seen a couple of home espresso machines with a backwash cycle. It's something you should ideally use at the end of every day (much more often than descaling) but the majority of home espresso machines just make do with rinsing the brew group with hot water. The Sage Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction is a notable exception, coming with a blank basket plus a full array of cleaning products. Full marks, Sage.

Another feature I appreciate is the ability to purge all water from the machine by draining the circuit and evaporating water from the boiler. It makes the machine safe to store or transport, and I've seen it on a couple of bean-to-cup espresso makers, but not many.

The De'Longhi La Specialista Touch has a case that's mostly plastic, but you'd never guess to look at it – and it's surprisingly compact (Image credit: Future)4. Good looks – and practicality

Call me shallow, but I'm not going to pretend that aesthetics don't matter when I'm choosing an espresso machine. We're not talking about a blender that's going to be tucked away in a cupboard – your coffee machine is going to be on the counter at all times, and it might be the first thing people see when they come in to your kitchen.

That doesn't necessarily mean it has to be a heavy piece of brushed stainless steel. Some of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines I've tested have a case that's made mostly from plastic, and that's perfectly fine as long as you can't tell.

The De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, for example, is mostly plastic on the outside, but it looks just like brushed metal and attracted a lot of admiring glances when I was using it in TechRadar's test kitchen. What it doesn't attract is fingerprints, which is excellent.

I have a small kitchen, so I also tend to look for coffee machines with a relatively small footprint, and which aren't too tall. I've sometimes struggled to use particularly large bean-to-cup coffee machines because I can't get beans into the hopper without pulling the machine out from underneath my cupboards.

Water tanks on the back of the machine are another bugbear, because they're hard to access unless you keep your coffee maker on an island. Give me a tank that sits on the side of the machine (like the Jura J10) or slides out of the front (like the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic) any day.

If you're planning to position your coffee maker under a wall cabinet, make sure there's enough space to access and fill the bean hopper. (Image credit: Future)5. Parts, servicing, and warranty

A coffee machine is a big investment, so it's well worth considering what the after-sales service is like before taking the plunge. This is one of the reasons why it's a good idea to consider one of the bigger brands, as they're more likely to have good customer support.

For example, if you pick a DeLonghi coffee machine, you'll benefit from a minimum guarantee of two years, and servicing at licensed repair centers using original parts. If your machine is outside its guarantee period, the company can still inspect and repair it for a fee, and it even supports coffee makers over nine years old.

Jura offers a 25-month warranty when you buy one of its machines from an authorized dealer, and the company can carry out repairs, or you can buy spare parts if you want to replace something yourself.

• Spotify has upgraded the way you can download playlists to other devices, marking a first for Android users
• Android users can now download music and podcasts to other devices right from the Spotify app
• Spotify has also added a 'Manage downloads' feature

Spotify has rolled out a useful new upgrade for offline playback, allowing Premium subscribers to download playlists, podcasts, and more to other devices remotely in the Spotify mobile app. The platform has also added an improved management tool for your downloads.

Along with devices such as iPads and laptops, the new feature allows you to download music and podcasts to the best smartwatches. Though a similar function has been available for the best Apple Watches for some time, this marks the first time a feature like this will be available for WearOS devices like the Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch.

The music streaming service has started rolling out this new feature to Premium subscribers globally, and while it’s far from a completely new function, it’s one that finally takes WearOS users into consideration. It also makes it a lot easier for you to download your favorite music to your smartwatch prior to going on a run without having to navigate the small smartwatch face itself, which I personally find very difficult.

(Image credit: Spotify)

When I say it makes the downloading process easier, I mean it. All you have to do is tap the three-dot icon on a playlist, podcast, or album, then tap ‘Download to other devices’, and the content will appear on other devices where you’re logged in with Spotify.

One of the better parts about this function is that you can initiate downloads to other devices wherever you are, so you don’t have to worry about being near your chosen secondary device for it to work, but it doesn’t end there.

Manage your Spotify downloads easier and smarter

(Image credit: Future)

Spotify’s five-device download limit means that managing your downloads is crucial, and you may find yourself having to free up space on your smartwatch or desktop when you go on a music download binge. But Spotify is helping you manage this with a smarter approach.

When you download content from the Spotify app to other devices, the new ‘Manage downloads’ tab will appear, giving you a clear view of all the devices where your downloads are active.

You can find this in the Spotify mobile app by tapping the three-dot icon on a playlist, album, or podcast you’ve downloaded, and then it will show you a list of the devices you’ve downloaded music to, which you can then remotely amend when you’re nearing the five-device limit.

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• Google Cloud's API service ere to blame for widespread outage
• Most regions were back online in 40 minutes, but some took even longer
• The company has promised to protect against future outages and improve communication

Following Google Cloud's recent widespread outage, which took sites like Spotify, Cloudflare and Discord offline, the company released its detailed report sharing exactly why it failed customers.

The company says the root cause was a code issue in Service Control – part of the company's API management and policy checking system.

Specifically, invalid automated quota update and a lack of proper error handling triggered a global crash loop, with 503 errors seen across not only Google Cloud services, but services using its APIs.

Google Cloud outage caused by API issue

The outage affected the Google Cloud infrastructure, as well as other popular Google Workspace apps like Drive, Docs, Gmail and Calendar. However, third-party sites accessing Google Cloud's API, including popular music streaming platform Spotify which boasts of 678 users, as well as some Cloudflare services, were also affected.

"On May 29, 2025, a new feature was added to Service Control for additional quota policy checks," the company wrote in its incident report. "The issue with this change was that it did not have appropriate error handling nor was it feature flag protected."

Google Cloud boasted that its Site Reliability Engineering team had started triaging the incident within two minutes, having identified the root cause within 10 minutes. "The red-button [to disable the serving path] was ready to roll out ~25 minutes from the start of the incident," Google said, with the rollout complete within 40 minutes.

Although smaller regions recovered relatively quickly, larger regions like us-central-1 took longer to come back online – around two hours and 40 minutes in the case of this particular region.

In its mini incident report issues on the day of the outage, Google Cloud promised to "do better." Its more detailed report promises the usual responses going forward, such as improving static analysis and testing practices, auditing and modularizing Service Control’s architecture to contain future incidents, but the company has also pledged to "improve [its] external communications" to better inform customers, ensuring that its communications infrastructure remains online even during such outages in the future.

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• Apple isn’t merging iPadOS and macOS, says the company’s Craig Federighi
• Doing so would “lose what makes iPad iPad,” Federighi explained
• iPadOS 26 tries to balance simplicity and power-user features

Spend enough time in the Apple ecosystem and you’ll hear one question pop up again and again: “will Apple ever merge its iPads and Macs?” Whether the question is being asked by a seasoned journalist or your uncle when you come to visit, plenty of people want to know the answer.

After a WWDC 2025 where iPadOS 26 was outfitted with a bunch of Mac-like features – from improved window management to an on-screen menu bar – that question has reared its head again. Yet it’s something that Apple has just come out and addressed head-on.

In an interview with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier (via MacRumors), Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi put it this way: “With macOS, you’d lose what makes iPad iPad, which is the ultimate touch device. But there are lots of things the two platforms can learn from one another, and that’s where we’ve adapted our best ideas to each.”

In other words, macOS Tahoe simply isn’t designed for tablets. But while putting the full-blown macOS on an iPad might not make sense right now, Apple is still happy to borrow ideas from each platform and spread them around its products – as we saw at WWDC.

Will iPadOS and macOS ever merge?

(Image credit: Apple)

So why not just leave iPadOS and macOS completely separate? Why share features among the platforms, which inevitably leads to questions about merging iPads and Macs?

According to Federighi, “We want to retain all the simplicity of the iPad but still allow iPad users who want to go deeper and further to push it at their own pace to doing more.” That means adding features that can enhance the experience for more demanding users, without adding needless complexity.

To that end, Apple has designed its new iPadOS features so that you can essentially toggle the multi-window mode on and off. If you prefer the old way of working, with fullscreen apps that don’t overlap, you can use that. If you want to use multiple windows as you can in macOS, you can switch to that mode.

Yet there’s one more consideration: the rumor that Apple is planning to launch a 19-inch foldable device that blurs the line between the iPad and the Mac. This is apparently due to launch around 2028, and it will be fascinating to see how Apple’s software handles such a product. Perhaps then we’ll finally know if Apple ever plans to merge iPadOS and macOS.

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• The Nubia Pad Pro is launching outside of China
• The tablet comes with impressive specs for the price
• The starting configuration will set you back $420 / £360

We may well have just got a new contender for our comprehensive best tablets guide, because the Nubia Pad Pro is launching globally. It's the first Android tablet from the Chinese company, and it has specs to compete with the best iPads.

Head over to the official Nubia Pad Pro listing (via GSMArena), and you'll see the device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, with 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage on board.

That chipset isn't the newest, but it's only a couple of years old, and still has plenty of power for day-to-day tablet tasks. Factor in the starting price of $420 / £360 (a launch in Australia hasn't been mentioned), and this seems like a pretty sweet deal.

The Nubia Pad Pro looks the part as well, nicely curved and finished based on the marketing images published so far: the tablet is a mere 7.3 mm thick, tips the scales at 523 grams, and boasts a 10.9-inch, 2880 x 1800 pixel, 144 Hz display.

Nubia vs Apple

The 11th-gen Apple iPad (Image credit: Apple)

While we haven't had a chance to review or even hold the Nubia Pad Pro yet, based on the specs and images it would appear to be a serious contender to Apple's entry-level iPad, which was refreshed again back in March.

That Apple tablet has a starting price of $349 / £329 / AU$599, so it's cheaper than the Nubia offering. However, the iPad also has a lower resolution screen and less RAM, and starts with less storage (128GB).

Fit out the iPad with 256GB of storage for all your photos, movies, and other files – which is what the Nubia Pad Pro starts with – and you're up to $449 / £429 / AU$799. That makes the Android option look very appealing indeed.

Of course you need to weigh up various other factors, including the other devices you have and the ecosystems you're already invested in, but this is a welcome new addition to the best Android tablets market – and you can currently grab some preorder deals as well.

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• Security researchers find threat actor advertising a major database
• The archive allegedly belongs to VirtualMacOSX.com
• It contains passwords, bank data, and other sensitive information

Thousands of records belonging to VirtualMacOSX users, including banking information, have been leaked on a popular hacking forum recently, experts have claimed.

Cybersecurity researchers Safety Detectives say they found a new thread on a popular clearweb hacking forum (a forum hosted on the mainstream internet), in which the poster offered a database to anyone who would comment, or otherwise interact with the thread, for free.

Allegedly, the database belongs to the customers of VirtualMacOSX.com, a cloud-based service that provides virtual Mac OS X servers and desktops, and contains 176,000 lines, split across three separate .txt files. In these files were contained people’s user IDs, full names, company names, email addresses, postal addresses, phone numbers, passwords, password reset keys, bank names, bank types, bank codes, bank accounts, and various support tickets.

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Operations stable

The threat also contained a 34-line sample of the database, Safety Detectives said, adding that their superficial analysis confirmed the data’s authenticity.

“Although the data appeared genuine and we saw indicatives in invoices sent to VirtualMacOSX, we could not definitively confirm that the data belonged to VirtualMacOSX’s customers as, due to ethical considerations, we refrained from testing the exposed credentials,” the researchers said.

We would argue that it is unusual for cybercriminals to give away a brand new database containing both banking data and passwords for free, so it could also be that the database is either fake, or recycled from a previous breach. A quick Google search showed no previously reported breaches at VirtualMacOSX.com.

In any case, users should definitely reset their passwords, including on any other platforms where they might have used the same set of credentials.

Furthermore, they should closely monitor their bank accounts for any suspicious transactions. Finally, they should be on the lookout for well-crafted phishing emails impersonating VirtualMacOSX.com.

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Fifteen years ago, I was no stranger to a moshpit. I was eighteen, and without the responsibilities nor the creeping aches of a mostly desk-bound thirty-three-year-old journalist, I could throw myself into these mock-brawls at rock concerts with reckless abandon.

Clad in my best (or tattiest) black, baggy Iron Maiden T-shirt, I moshed at any gig I could, from obscure hardcore garage bands in tiny metal-music pubs, all the way to huge festival concerts for the likes of Metallica, entering moshes with hundreds of participants.

They might look scary on the outside, but even if you've never been in one before, most moshpits are friendly affairs: no-one's out to (seriously) hurt anyone else, and if anyone falls down, they get hauled up straight away. On many occasions, I'd see a hand holding a shoe, phone, or hoodie stick straight into the air in the middle of the pit, signaling to the owner that they've lost something. Moshpits everywhere, no matter the size of the crowd, share an unwritten code of conduct.

Unfortunately, your technology can't understand that this is all fun and games. All the best Apple watches, and most of the best Android smartwatches, offer features designed to detect falls and collisions, notifying either a designated contact or placing a call to emergency services, but these features can be accidentally triggered too. The Guardian reports that during the annual Download Festival, a three-day event in the UK that's considered by many to be a Mecca for metal fans, around 700 accidental emergency calls get made on average as a result of moshing.

The festival took place last weekend, from 13-15 June, and the wasted time for emergency services is presumably still being assessed.

Posted by leicspolice on 

Before Download began in earnest last weekend, the local Leicestershire Police force took to social media to remind rock fans to either take off their smartwatches or turn off the feature. On Facebook, the police force wrote:

"The tech assumed that people in mosh pits had been in a collision, causing 999 contacts and abandoned 999 calls.

"All those calls had to be assessed, with three outbound call attempts completed to ensure there is no threat, risk or harm, taking our contact handlers away from answering true emergency calls.

"#HelpUsHelpYou by answering our callbacks from hidden numbers to let us know you are safe. We also recommend switching on ‘airplane mode’ or disabling emergency alerts on your wearable tech."

When Crash Detection features were first introduced by Apple in 2022, headlines abounded about accidental callouts to theme parks: one BBC article highlighted Apple Watches as responsible for six different emergency callouts to a single theme park in Cincinatti, Ohio.

However, it's not all bad; for every headline about accidental triggers or false callouts, there's also been one about how someone's benefited from a smartwatch's emergency features. We'd call that a net positive overall.

If you're about to rock, we don't just salute you: we also encourage you to turn off Crash Detection or similar features on your devices. For Wear OS, you'll find these features under the Personal Safety tab, while Apple Watch users will need to go to Settings > SOS > Crash Detection.

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• Studio-quality audio recording and camera remote will be in public beta
• The public beta will be available in July 2025
• Apple doesn’t recommend installing betas on devices you rely upon

Since the early days of iOS, there's been a frustrating delay between the big reveal at WWDC and the final version arriving in September (usually): we get to see fun new things and then have to wait for what feels like forever to actually get them – including on upgrades promised to AirPods.

Good news! Apple has promised to let you play with the new AirPods features in July 2025 for the first time. There is a catch, though: it'll be part of the iOS/iPadOS/macOS public beta, so you shouldn't expect the fully polished final versions, and it's not a wise idea to install the beta software on your devices you rely on every day. So while you can get early access, you probably shouldn't.

The new features are studio-quality audio recording and camera remote. Apple says the former is for singers, podcasters, interviewers and other content creators and will deliver much better sound quality in recordings, in phone calls, in FaceTime and in third-party apps that use Apple's CallKit framework. It should also improve dictation accuracy, especially in noisier environments.

Camera remote is exactly what it sounds like: it enables you to trigger the Camera app's (or compatible third-party app's) shutter by squeezing the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)Public betas are better

The new features are for AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2, and require an iPhone capable of running iOS 26 – which is most of the relatively recent ones, as iOS 26 will be available for phones going back to the iPhone 11.

If you're really keen to experiment with the new features, you can get the developer beta of iOS 26 right now at developer.apple.com; all you need is a developer account. The public beta will follow in July, which doesn't require a developer account.

But both options aren't a good idea for most of us, I think. From the feedback I'm seeing online from early adopters, iOS 26 is still quite far from being finished, and Apple very specifically urges people not to install developer betas on their main devices.

The public beta is a safer option, but there are still the usual caveats about beta software being unfinished – so there may be app incompatibilities, weird bugs, display glitches and other frustrations.

In a worse-case scenario, they can even brick your devices, making them completely unusable – but these are risks you'll agree to take when you sign the agreement to try the beta software. It's probably not worth the risk to get clearer calls a few months early.

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could be the next two major smartphone launches (all signs point to a July announcement), and at this point, we have a good idea of what to expect from both new devices.

Leaks and rumors have detailed many of their possible specs and upgrades, and now, leaker @PandaFlashPro has even gone so far as to detail the specific features Samsung will supposedly highlight at the phones' July launch.

So, below, you’ll find the five things Samsung might focus on during its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked showcase – from camera tech to screen sizes.

1. Gemini Live

Gemini Live on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image credit: Google)

While Gemini and Gemini Live are Google features rather than Samsung ones, the latter company will apparently talk a lot about these tools during the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Gemini is Google’s AI chatbot, and Gemini Live is a feature that lets you engage in spoken conversations with said chatbot. You can also show Gemini what your camera can see, or other images or files, and ask it questions about them.

None of this is new, but perhaps we’ll see new Gemini features baked into the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7, or perhaps Samsung will simply highlight how well Gemini Live works with a foldable form factor.

According to this leak, Samsung will also highlight other existing AI features like Generative Edits for photos and Now Brief (a tool that delivers personalized briefings throughout the day).

2. A new camera with a new visual engine

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Samsung will also apparently highlight the camera capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in particular, including its widely rumored new 200MP primary snapper, which will reportedly replace the 50MP one on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

As well as new camera hardware, the company will apparently highlight new software, too, in the form of an improved version of its ProVisual Engine, which runs behind the scenes to optimize photo quality.

3. A thin and durable design

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Samsung will supposedly highlight the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7’s thin and durable design at Galaxy Unpacked, including the “all-new” ultra-thin glass on its screen. The aforementioned leaker doesn't say exactly how this glass will be improved over the Z Fold 6’s, but presumably it will either be thinner or more durable, or both.

And we’ve previously heard from various sources that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be much slimmer than its predecessor, with one source suggesting the Z Fold 7 will be just 3.9mm thick when unfolded and 8.9mm thick when folded. That’s down from 5.6mm and 12.1mm on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

As for durability, we’ve previously heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might have improved water and dust resistance, and that it could have a tough titanium backplate.

In fact, Samsung itself has even said the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be slimmer and more durable than the Z Fold 6.

It’s worth noting that some leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could also be more durable than the previous model, but seemingly, Samsung won’t focus on that if this latest claim is accurate.

4. Improved photo quality

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Samsung reportedly won’t focus as much on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which makes sense, since leaks suggest this device won’t be getting as many upgrades as the Z Fold 7. But according to this latest rumor, one thing Samsung will highlight is the phone’s improved photo quality.

They don’t specify here what the cause of that improved photo quality will be, but this is likely a reference to a new version of Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, which is reportedly coming to both upcoming foldables and works behind the scenes to improve images using AI.

From what we’ve heard so far, though, the actual camera hardware on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 might be unchanged from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, so there might not be too much for the company to talk about here.

5. A better cover screen

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The other Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 feature that Samsung will apparently focus on is its cover screen. The source here doesn’t detail what this specific display upgrade might be, but we’ve previously heard that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 may have a larger cover screen of around 4 inches (up from 3.4 inches on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6), so it’s likely to be the size that’s the focus.

That increase should make the Galaxy Z Flip 7's display a lot more usable, and according to previous reports, the main display might also be larger this year, at around 6.85 inches (up from 6.7), but that’s not mentioned here.

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In these pessimistic times where dystopian angst is often seen as a supreme virtue, it's remarkably refreshing to discover a new Netflix movie that can properly deliver a good old-fashioned love story… and especially one revolving around space exploration.

Debuting on Netflix back on May 30, Lost in Starlight is peppered with a soothing and emotional selection of original K-pop tunes courtesy of artists like CIFIKA, Meego, John Park and Wave to Earth's Kim Daniel.

The sci-fi anime film, which is one of the best Netflix movies with its 88% and 91% Rotten Tomatoes scores from the critics and audiences respectively, confidently carries a distinctive air of romanticism in a star-crossed lovers tale of scientist astronaut Nan-young and a struggling musician named Jay.

The pair become estranged when one of them ventures into the cosmos on a mission to Mars, but the connection they've forged on Earth carries across million of miles as she endeavors to perform her astronaut duties to the best of her abilities and return to Seoul safely.

This is Netflix's first feature-length Korean animated movie and it's a fantastic beginning to that relationship of working on the best anime with the film’s heartbreaking core of emotionality, immediate resonance, and irresistible charm.

Directed by South Korean filmmaker Han Ji-Won and produced by Climax Studios, Lost in Starlight offers something different with its beautifully rendered backgrounds, crisp and appealing character designs, and a color palette reminiscent of vivid spring bouquets.

The futuristic love story begins in 2026 when a devastating Mars quake causes the collapse of an underground research base, Nan-young's mother was one of the casualties. Now 25 years later in the year 2051 she’s an astronaut candidate in Seoul, South Korea hoping to be chosen for a fourth expedition to Mars to investigate an immense impact crater.

Nan-young en route to Mars in "Lost in Starlight" (Image credit: Netflix)

As she's waiting to be evaluated and cleared for flight she bumps into Jay, an electronics expert and songwriter who's capable of fixing her broken record player. The two bond over one of his songs and the transportive power of music just as her Life Form Detector is going to be employed by the Korean Aerospace Administration on the next NASA mission to the Red Planet, and she'll be accompanying the equipment.

"Usually in animated films, the characters just exist to drive the plot," Han told Forbes in a recent interview. "I didn't want that. I really wanted to have characters that you would see in everyday life, who you could really relate to. With animation, you can control all the details of expression and movement, so you can actually get more personal, more character-specific, and really dive into the feeling of it."

A touching scene from Netflix's "Lost in Starlight" (Image credit: Netflix)

Still dealing with psychological after-effects of her mother's death on Mars two decades earlier, Nan-young accepts the mission assignment and lifts off on a 6-month journey to Earth's mysterious neighbor. Once on planet, she explores a subterranean lava cave created by the meteorite crash where life forms have been detected. While on this perilous hunt, Nan-young becomes cut off from her colleagues as a dust storm descends. Will she get rescued and make it out alive from the Red Planet and return to her beloved Jay waiting back on Earth?

Currently streaming exclusively on Netflix, Lost in Starlight is only Han Ji-Won’s second feature film, but it's a stunning followup for this rising cinematic star and we can’t wait to see what project she becomes attached to next. Until then, let's relish the romance of her sci-fi gem.

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• German state Schleswig-Holstein wants to remove all traces of Microsoft, including Windows
• Transition started in 2023, and should be complete by the end of 2025
• Digitalization minister says, "We're done with Teams"

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's northernmost state, has confirmed it will be phasing out Microsoft office software tools (including Teams, Word, Excel and Outlook) in its public offices in a bid to reduce its reliance on US tech giants.

The region is now seeking open source alternatives, with the likes of LibreOffice, Open-Xchange and Linux being broadly adopted.

To date, an estimated 30,000 public employees have already turned their backs on Microsoft's products, with a further 30,000 teachers set to follow suit.

German state pulls the plug on Microsoft software

The move means Schleswig-Holstein has become the first German state, and one of the first in Europe, to fully phase out Microsoft products in public administration, however it marks a growing trend across the continent as administrations seek to support local and sovereign options, gain digital independence and tackle the dominance of US tech giants – a topic that has been central to numerous EU antitrust investigations in recent years.

Set to affect almost all government departments in the state, the transition started in 2023. A full switch for civil servants, police and judges is expected by the end of this year.

Possibly one of the biggest changeovers to have happened, the transition extends far beyond switching Microsoft Office for LibreOffice.

Outlook is to be replaced by Open-Xchange, Microsoft Teams will be phased out for an open source German platform, and even the entire operating system – Windows – will be switched out for Linux-based OSs.

Besides seeking geographical independence, Schleswig-Holstein's approach can also be seen as a reaction to geopolitical instability, such as President Trump's return to office and subsequent EU-US tensions.

By betting on open source software (OSS), the German state could avoid expensive licensing fees tied to Microsoft's products (one of the pertinent antitrust cases to have been led by the European Commission), potentially saving tens of millions of euros in the long term.

Neighbouring Danish cities, like Copenhagen and Aarhus, are also reportedly exploring Microsoft alternatives, however such a change could come at a cost.

For example, the state risks running into potential interoperability issues by adopting solutions from a range of providers, while workers could need full retraining and support during the transition.

However, desires to cut ties are evident. Speaking with AFP (via France24), digitalization minister Dirk Schroedter concluded: "We're done with Teams!"

"The geopolitical developments of the past few months have strengthened interest in the path that we've taken," Schroedter added.

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