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Wix

Wix offers a fast yet flexible way to build your site. You get thousands of templates, an easy drag-and-drop editor, and powerful security. AI tools make setup super simple. We can see why many businesses prefer its features and freedom to customize.

Pros

• Huge template library
• Flexible drag-and-drop editor
• Powerful built-in features
• AI site builder
• Strong app market

Cons

• Higher monthly price
• Can’t change template later
• Overwhelming choices
• No email support
• Slower performance at times

Weebly

Weebly makes website building simple for everyone. It’s very affordable and its editor is easy to learn. You get free ecommerce on the basic plan, although many design features are limited as Weebly has not received updates since its acquisition by Square.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Unlimited free plan
• Free ecommerce option
• Simple drag-and-drop editor
• Easy setup process

Cons

• Fewer template choices
• Outdated design features
• Limited customization
• Mobile editing not supported
• Rarely updated platform

Building a business website today is simpler than ever. We have many accessible no-code platforms at our fingertips, designed for people who aren't coding experts. These website builders let anyone create a functional and good-looking site without needing to learn how to code.

Wix and Weebly are both popular options for beginners in 2025. But the differences matter quite a lot. Wix has endless features, flexible editing, and strong AI tools. Weebly is affordable and easier for small shops, but many features feel outdated. We’re going to break down what’s great, what’s not, and help you choose the best fit.

Wix vs Weebly: A detailed breakdown

Feature

Wix

Weebly

Starting price: USD/month

$17

$10

Free plan: Yes/No

Yes

Yes

Templates

2,000+ highly customizable

50+ basic options

Editor type

Flexible drag-and-drop, AI builder

Simple drag-and-drop

Ecommerce features

Advanced (paid plan needed)

Free on basic plan

Mobile editing

Yes

No

SEO tools

Advanced and customizable

Basic guides only

Customer support

Solid, but no email support

24/7 only on premium

Apps/Integrations

800+ options

350+ options

AI features

Yes, AI website builder

None

Customization

High design freedom

Low customization power

Performance

Sometimes slow

Fast, but very basic

Both Wix and Weebly are designed with ease of use in mind. However, Wix may have an edge when it comes to user-friendliness. The platform features an intuitive editor that makes it easy to add content and design your website exactly how you want it. Weebly’s editor is also straightforward to use, but it doesn’t offer quite as much flexibility as Wix.

When it comes to templates, both Wix and Weebly offer a good selection of modern and professional- designs. However, Wix arguably has the edge when it comes to template quality and variety. So, if you’re looking for more choices when it comes to designing your website, Wix is the better option.

Additionally, Wix and Weebly offer a good selection of features to help you build a professional-looking website. However, Wix offers more advanced features than Weebly, such as an app market, password-protected pages and the ability to sell products on your website. 

Wix vs Weebly: Features

Weebly has a traditional drag-and-drop interface that's easy to use but very restrictive. Meanwhile, Wix uses a more modern approach that relies on AI, templates, and drag-and-drop components to help you create websites. Weebly offers about 500 templates while Wix has over 2,000. Also, Wix's templates are more recent, with better design and accessibility.

Wix and Weebly both offer a wide range of features, including e-commerce, contact forms, and social media integration. However, Wix tends to have way more unique and innovative features, such as the Wix App Market and the Wix AI.

Weebly has an HTML/CSS editor for advanced customization, but very limited built-in flexibility. Wix also has an HTML/CSS editor, but it's also got many more tools for no-code development plus more recent updates to its platform. However, Weebly does have a fully free starter plan with no time restrictions and functional ecommerce features, which is absent with Wix. This is incredibly rare since most no-code tools charge for ecommerce features.

So, which platform is better? Wix has the clear higher ground here, but if youjust want an easy-to-use platform with a generous free plan, Weebly is a good choice. Just know that you won't have as much room to grow once you decide to upgrade to paid tiers for better scalability.

Wix vs Weebly: Ease of use 

Weebly is known for its ease of use. The platform’s editor makes adding content and creating pages simple. You can drag and drop elements onto your pages with ease, plus you don’t need any coding skills to create a top quality website. Since the options here are very limited, you could say that this platform is a better playground for beginners who haven't used these tools before.

Wix also has an easy-to-use editor, but it is not as simple as Weebly’s. Wix’s editor can be a bit confusing and overwhelming for first-time users, since it packs way more into its interface. It takes some time to get used to the platform, but once you do, you can create stunning websites that won't be possible with Weebly.

Wix vs Weebly: Support

Wix delivers solid support. It’s got a huge help center, tons of video walkthroughs, live chat, and phone support for premium users. Our experience shows answers are quick, especially if you pay for their higher plans. The only catch: you can’t get direct email support anymore. Social channels step in for fast fixes.

Weebly covers the basics with a detailed knowledge center and community forums. Most help comes from help articles or the integrated support button. You get live chat and phone support, but only if you pay for their upper plans. Free users might wait longer for help.

In general, Wix offers better customer support than Weebly. Both platforms are good at providing timely and helpful assistance when you need it, but the former is more complex and therefore features a more efficient support ecosystem.

Wix vs Weebly: Pricing and plans

Wix and Weebly both start free if you just want a basic site. Wix’s paid tiers begin at $17/month and go up to about $152/month. The most entry-level plan (Core) is $17/month, still giving you plenty: custom domain, lots of storage, and basic ecommerce tools. Want better features or top analytics? You’ll pay more.

Weebly makes pricing simpler. Paid plans are $10/month (Personal), $12/month (Professional), and $26/month (Performance). Even the cheapest one lets you sell products online for free, which is rare. You get fewer templates and not as many add-ons, but the website works.

We’ve found Wix offers much more for businesses wanting features and flexibility, but costs add up faster. Weebly saves you money and lets you try e-commerce without risk, yet it isn’t as robust. Serious businesses or those needing growth tools should spend for Wix, while smaller shops or simple sites will be happy with Weebly.

Weebly wins for budget users, Wix for those needing a richer site and more features.

Wix vs Weebly: Final verdict

Wix is the clear winner for 2025. It brings advanced features, powerful AI tools, and unmatched freedom to customize your site. We’ve seen Wix consistently improve its platform, staying ahead with fresh updates and solid support. If you want the best website builder for creative control, design, or scaling your business, Wix is your go-to.

Weebly still deserves a look, especially for beginners and budget-focused users. Its free eCommerce features and simple editor make it ideal if you just want a functional site with no fuss. We can say Wix wins for most, but Weebly is better if affordability and fast setup matter most to you.

Wix vs Weebly: FAQsWhich builder is easier for beginners — Wix or Weebly?

Weebly takes the crown for ease. Its editor keeps things simple, guiding you through site creation step by step. You don’t need any web know-how. Wix is more powerful but can feel overwhelming if you’re brand new to site building. Wix’s new AI builder does help, but Weebly still wins for pure UI simplicity.

Can I sell online using Wix and Weebly’s free plans?

Weebly lets you start selling products with its free plan. You get solid ecommerce basics without spending a cent. Wix, on the other hand, requires you to upgrade to a paid plan before you can open an online shop. This gives Weebly a big edge for budget-conscious sellers starting out.

Is Wix worth the higher price compared to Weebly?

If you want rich features, AI design, and lots of customization, Wix’s extra cost is justified. We know Wix isn’t cheap, but you get great value. Weebly remains the budget pick, especially for small sites or basic shops. But for most businesses aiming to grow, Wix pays off over time. For personal projects or local shops, Weebly keeps things very affordable.

Which platform offers better design flexibility?

Wix is far more flexible. Its editor lets you move anything, anywhere, no grid lock or restrictions. You can pick from thousands of templates and tweak every detail. Weebly’s templates are fewer and its editor keeps you within the lines. If creative freedom matters, Wix is the choice.

How do support options compare in 2025?

Wix covers more ground with live chat, a massive help center, and phone support for paid users. You get help quickly and there are tons of video tutorials. Weebly offers basic help articles and community forums. Premium users get phone and chat support, but free users might wait longer. Wix is faster and more complete for most support needs.

• The best web hosting service will accompany your top quality website builder to create the perfect site

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, August 16 (game #1300).

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 #1301) - 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 #1301) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1301) - 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 #1301) - 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 #1301) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• F

• A

• D

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1301) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1301, are…

• FUNGI
• AMITY
• DRIER
• CHECK

Another day where I struggled to find my final word and thought about entering an incorrect one – it was going to be “admit” – just to keep the game moving and attempt to turn a few letters green.

AMITY was an experiment as it sounded like a word (as well as the town in Jaws) but it turned out to be correct (it means friendly relations).

Daily Sequence today (game #1301) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1301, are…

• PUFFY
• WEIGH
• SHEIK
• STRIP

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, August 16 (game #797).

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 #798) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PRESS
• CLOSE
• WELCOME
• STAMP
• OPEN
• SPEECH
• HANDY
• ADDRESS
• PETITION
• ENVELOPE
• PUSH
• ACCESSIBLE
• NAME
• NEARBY
• ASSEMBLY
• EXIT

NYT Connections today (game #798) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Local places
• GREEN: Put it in the post
• BLUE: Seen at an entrance 
• PURPLE: Protected by the US Constitution

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 #798) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER 
• BLUE: WORDS ON A DOOR 
• PURPLE: FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS

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

NYT Connections today (game #798) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #798, are…

• YELLOW: CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ACCESSIBLE, CLOSE, HANDY, NEARBY
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER ADDRESS, ENVELOPE, NAME, STAMP
• BLUE: WORDS ON A DOOR EXIT, OPEN, PUSH, WELCOME
• PURPLE: FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS ASSEMBLY, PETITION, PRESS, SPEECH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 mistake

I made one mistake today and it came from rushing to put together a quartet before properly considering all 16 tiles. 

Thinking I was collecting words linked to pressure on an opposing team, I grouped together PRESS, CLOSE, PUSH and ADDRESS.

I abandoned this pursuit and studied the board a bit more carefully immediately seeing NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER and then FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS, something I’m surprised warranted being a purple group.

The oddity of the round for me was completely overlooking the yellow group – something on reflection I really should have seen ahead of anything else.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, August 16, game #797)

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY FORTITUDE, GRIT, PLUCK, RESOLVE
• GREEN: RENOVATIONS CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS, UPGRADES, WORK
• BLUE: TROUNCE CREAM, CRUSH, ROUT, SHELLAC
• PURPLE: KINDS OF SOFT/LIGHTWEIGHT PAPER CREPE, ROLLING, TISSUE, TOILET

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, August 16 (game #531).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Think again!

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TINT
• GRAIN
• STEER
• FILTH
• TRIVIA
• TUNA

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 6th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #532) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #532, are…

• CREATIVITY
• FEELINGS
• SPONTANEITY
• INTUITION
• SPANGRAM: RIGHT BRAIN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The day after giving us the theme of left brain with a spangram running down the left of the puzzle, today Strands followed it up with RIGHT BRAIN. 

Activities associated with this side of our brains are those that involve visual-spatial processing and imagination, whereas the left involve logical, analytical, and sequential processing (I engaged the center of my brain – which I like to call 'Google' – to bring you these facts).

Despite the tricky words – SPONTANEITY always trips me up – this was a relatively easy puzzle to complete, but a worthwhile exercise all the same, as it’s always nice to be reminded about the wonder of our brains and the multitudes they contain.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, August 16, game #531)

• LOGIC
• ANALYSIS
• LANGUAGE
• NUMBERS
• ORDER 
• REASON
• SPANGRAM: LEFT BRAIN

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.

• James Gunn has dropped a big hint about Supergirl's age rating
• The DC Studios co-CEO indicated that "everyone" will be able to see it
• Gunn's comment suggests it'll have a similar rating to Superman

James Gunn had dropped the biggest hint yet over Supergirl's age rating – and, if you were expecting it to a mature movie, you'll be disappointed.

Speaking as part of a roundtable attended by TechRadar to promote Peacemaker season 2, Gunn heavily implied that the Milly Alcock-starring DC Universe (DCU) film won't be as age-restricted as some viewers might have expected. Instead, Gunn indicated that it'll fall within the same bracket as Gunn's Superman movie, which carried a PG-13 rating in the US and a 12A classification in the UK.

As part of a wider answer about how each DCU Chapter One project's age rating is determined, especially in a shared cinematic world where characters from R-rated productions could appear in more family-oriented ones and vice versa, Gunn replied: "I think it's exciting to be able to tell different stories for different groups of people.

"So, you know, Superman was for everyone. Peacemaker is for an adult audience. Supergirl will be for everyone. We have the Krypto shorts [included on Superman's forthcoming physical release] that are for children. Then, we have Clayface, which is an R-rated horror film. So, I really like the idea of telling truly different tales within a singular universe."

Have you seen #Superman in theaters yet? pic.twitter.com/p4s60RWBXdAugust 9, 2025

Supergirl, which was known as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow until Gunn confirmed its shorter title in June, will be the next DCU film that flies into theaters. Supergirl's official release date was confirmed in June 2024, and it'll make its global theatrical debut on June 26, 2026.

We haven't had to wait for our first glimpse of Alcock in Gunn and Peter Safran's new-look DC comic-book universe, either. In January, the movie's first image showed Alcock's Kara Zor-El in a place that'll be very familiar to DC comic fans. Then, after teasing that Superman would include characters Gunn hadn't publicly revealed yet, one of the DCU film's final scenes included a crowd-pleasing cameo from Alcock's Kryptonian – and that 30-second teaser was all I needed to have full confidence in the DCU's Supergirl movie.

Following Kara's all-too-brief appearance in her cousin's latest big-screen adventure, Supergirl's first poster revealed a near-full first look at her superhero costume, and put a rebellious spin on Superman's 'Look up' tagline. If you were expecting her to be a squeaky clean as Clark Kent/Kal-El, you're sorely mistaken.

For more on the DCU's next silver-screen project, check out my dedicated guide on Supergirl and then find out why Jason Momoa's Lobo is such a vital part of its story.

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I’m a little late to the table, but I’ve recently started season 4 of The Bear on Disney+ with the hope that the slow simmering of season 3 is replaced with one that reaches the boiling points of the earlier ones.

It’s early days for me to fully chew into what season 4 has on the menu, but the steaks have been raised and it looks appetizing to add to my TV series diet. Yet there’s one ingredient in The Bear that’s made in through all four seasons, and has started to turn sour.

This could ruin The Bear for you, regardless of which season you’re on, as once you see it, there’s potentially no going back…

Heady flavors

That thing is the nodding. So. Much. Nodding.

Very noticeable in the first two seasons, to my eyes, every time key characters have a deep and meaningful interaction, they tend to nod a lot at each other. Speech pauses, the camera fixes on their individual faces and cuts between them, nodding to each other.

Fixing on faces and having slower moments is a fine tool to emphasise the emotion or impact of a scene, especially when the story is centered on chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto’s coping with trauma, death, and a dysfunctional restaurant. And Carmy’s nodding is almost a signature emote brought to the character by actor Jeremy Allan White.

This is all fine until you start to notice other actors and characters also nodding away in close-up scenes, often with eyes full of sadness or damp emotion. Used a few times, it’s a neat touch and seasons a scene or interaction.

Can we appreciate Carmy’s signature head nod for a moment??? from r/TheBear

As such, now that we’ve got to season 4, I find myself struggling to watch The Bear without fixating on spotting the incessant nodding, be it big and bold or just a subtle dusting of y-axis head movement. Though with a little sprinkle of irony, I don’t think this season is quite as full of nodding as the others, with the exception of Carmy’s bobbing head.

But there’s still a heck of a lot of slow scenes with characters staring into the void or at each other, which I fear is blunting the pace of The Bear and leaving episodes to feel a bit spongy in terms of proper narrative progression.

The Bear is less about food and more about the characters as they process challenges and changes, jeopardy and joy, all in the pressure cooker of a busy restaurant kitchen. But after the frenetic pace of the first two seasons and some standout episodes, The Bear’s focus on the characters is starting to taste a little samey without much in the way of big changes to push the narrative forward at a speed that’s in sync with the 30-minute runtime of each episode.

It feels like more development could be coming after my appetiser of two episodes. My hope is that season 4 rounds out with a perfectly baked story, and characters that don’t feel like they’ve been left in the emotional oven for too long or underdone like Edwin Lee Gibson’s Ebraheim, who I felt didn't get much time to sizzle on screen.

And I do hope the nodding is kept in check, as otherwise I’m going to be driven slowly mad by The Bear, which would be a shame given a fifth season has been greenlit.

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• England’s drought was declared nationally significant after the driest six months since records began in 1976
• The UK government urges the public to delete old files as part of a nationwide water conservation strategy
• Hosepipe bans remain in place while reservoirs across England drop to alarmingly low seasonal levels

The UK government has proposed an unconventional way to contribute to water conservation during the country’s ongoing drought - deleting old emails and pictures.

ThE suggestion came from the National Drought Group, which includes government agencies, water companies, and environmental experts.

The ongoing drought in England has been declared a “national incident” following the driest six months since 1976.

Six months of extreme dryness prompt government-level alert

The reasoning behind the advice is linked to the operation of data centers, which support services such as email hosting, cloud storage, and email services.

These facilities use large volumes of water to cool servers and maintain optimal performance, so by reducing the amount of stored data, the argument goes, demand on data center capacity could be lowered, potentially cutting water consumption.

However, the real-world effect of such personal digital cleanups is uncertain.

While data centers do consume large amounts of water, particularly in high-density computing operations, experts have not presented clear evidence showing that deleting small amounts of personal data measurably reduces their cooling needs.

Critics suggest that structural changes, like reducing leaks and improving water infrastructure, would have a more immediate and tangible impact.

The drought has already prompted hosepipe bans in parts of Yorkshire, the South East, and other affected regions.

Reservoirs have dropped to 67.7% capacity on average across England, far below the early August norm of over 80%.

Some are now below 50%, with river flows at historically low levels in certain areas.

Prolonged dry conditions and multiple heatwaves have worsened the situation, affecting agriculture, wildlife, and public water supply.

Water companies have intensified leak repairs, with some fixing over 800 each week, and smart meters are being used to identify problem areas.

Public awareness campaigns have encouraged traditional water-saving actions such as taking shorter showers, fixing leaking toilets, and collecting rainwater for garden use.

The inclusion of a digital storage cleanup in official conservation messaging reflects a broader recognition that water consumption is linked not only to domestic and industrial activities, but also to the infrastructure supporting online life.

The growing demand for cloud storage and generative AI has added to the load on data centers, and environmental reports have shown measurable water use from AI processing tasks.

Whether deleting old files will have an impact on water supplies remains open to question.

However, England is in dire need of a solution for the drought, and small, everyday actions, whether at home or online, are part of the collective effort to protect the country’s strained water resources.

"Simple, everyday choices, such as turning off a tap or deleting old emails, also help the collective effort to reduce demand and help preserve the health of our rivers and wildlife," said Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency.

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• Tackling Shadow AI: how UK businesses can mitigate the risks

• Watch Australia vs South Africa 3rd T20 on Willow via Sling TV (US)
• Abroad? Unblock your stream with NordVPN (Save 70%)
• Australia vs South Africa 3rd T20 starts at 7.15pm AEST / 10.15am BST / 5.15am ET Saturday, August 16

Australia vs South Africa T20 at Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns, on Saturday is the deciding third game in a three-match series.

Australia won the first game, to extend their winning run to a record nine T20I games. But then South Africa rallied in thrilling and record-breaking fashion in the second match at Darwin to set up a fascinating series decider in Cains on Saturday, August 16.

Australia have welcomed back some of their leading T20 players for this series, with Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood and Matt Short returning having missed the 5-0 series victory in the Caribbean over West Indies. The hosts are a formidable T20 side at present, with 22 wins in their past 26 matches leading up this series.

For South Africa this is a different opportunity. The visitors are using the chance to give some fringe players exposure as they have another 16 T20 matches scheduled after this series in the run up to the next T20 World Cup.

However, the tourists still have experience in the form of several of their big-name players including skipper Aiden Markram, and pace bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. The bowling line up also includes the exciting 19-year-old left arm quick Kwena Maphaka. On his T20I debut in December, one of his deliveries was of 151.6kph (94.75mph).

So, read on and we'll explain how to watch the T20 series decider between Australia and South Africa in Cairns.

Use a VPN to watch any Australia vs South Africa stream

If you're keen to watch the cricket but you're away from home and your preferred coverage is geo-blocked, you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

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How to watch Australia vs South Africa T20 live streams in the US

Cricket streaming service Willow TV is the place to watch the Australia vs South Africa T20 series in the US.

If you don't have it as part of your cable package, you can watch Willow coverage through your choice of Sling TV's Desi Binge Plus or Dakshin Flex plans – starting from $10 per month.

Outside the US right now? You can make use of NordVPN to catch the action.

For US residents, Sling TV is the perfect plan in order to watch cricket from WillowTV. You can sign up to your choice of its Desi Binge Plus, Dakshin Flex or Urdu plans, which all include Willow.

Prices start from only $10 per month or $50 for six months.View Deal

How to watch Australia vs South Africa live streams in the UK

The Australia vs South Africa T20 series is being televised on TNT Sports in the UK. Today's match is on TNT4.

To access TNT Sports, you'll either need to add it to your TV package, or you can take out a standalone subscription via Discovery+, which will set you back from £30.99 per month. You'll also have access to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football plus rugby, wrestling, UFC, MotoGP and more.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from abroad.

How to watch Australia vs South Africa live streams in India

The rights to Australia's home cricket internationals are held by Disney Star, now known as JioHotstar.

Subscriptions start at Rs. 149 ($1.70) for 3 months, but the best option is to purchase their Premium Plan for Rs.299/month which is ad-free and offers streaming across four devices at the same time.

Visiting the US from India? Use NordVPN to access your usual streaming service while away.

How to watch Australia vs South Africa live streams in Australia

The Australia vs South Africa T20 series will be broadcast on Fox Sports 501 which is available on Foxtel in Australia.

However, your most cost-efficient option is specialist sports streamer Kayo Sports, with plans starting from $30 a month after you've taken advantage of its first month for $1 offer or 7-day free trial.

Away from Oz when the series is on? Use a VPN to watch your usual cricket stream when abroad.

How to watch Australia vs South Africa in South Africa

SuperSport has the rights to show the Australia vs South Africa T20 series in South Africa.

To access SuperSport you can through satellite on DStv or on DStv Now, the streaming platform which offers cordless access to the SuperSport channels.

If you're travelling outside of South Africa during the series you can still access your usual cricket streams using a VPN.

Australia vs South Africa T20 series 2025 Q+AWhat is the schedule for the Australia vs South Africa T20 series?

• August 10: First T20, Marrara Stadium, Darwin – Australia won by 17 runs
• August 12: Second T20, Marrara Stadium, Darwin – South Africa won by 53 runs;
• August 16: Third T20, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns.

What time does the match start?

Play is due to start at 7.15pm AEST / 10.15am BST / 5.15am ET

Australia vs South Africa 3rd T20 teams

Australia: 1 Travis Head; 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt); 3 Josh Inglis (wk); 4 Cameron Green; 5 Tim David; 6 Glenn Maxwell; 7 Aaron Hardie; 8 Ben Dwarshuis; 9 Nathan Ellis; 10 Adam Zampa; 11 Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: 1, Aiden Markram (capt); 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk); 3 Lhuan-dre Pretorius; 4 Dewald Brevis; 5 Tristan Stubbs; 6 Rassie van der Dussen; 7 Corbin Bosch; 8 Senuran Muthusamy; 9 Kagiso Rabada; 10 Kwena Maphaka; 11 Lungi Ngidi.

What happened in the 1st T20?

Australia batted first for the first time in seven T20Is and slumped to 75-6, but recovered to 178 thanks to Tom David's 83, which contained eight sixes.

It was , however, the first time they had been bowled out by South Africa in their 26 T20I meetings. Kwena Maphaka, at 19 years and 124 days old, became the youngest player from a Full Member country to take a four-for in T20Is.

Australia had not previously successfully defended such a low score against South Africa, but did so this time to give Mitchell Marsh his 22nd win out of his 25 matches as captain.

What happened in the 2nd T20?

South Africa brought to an end Australia's winning run in record-breaking style.

The Proteas made 218-7, their highest score against Australia, and 22-year-old Donald Brevis' 125* is the highest T20I score for South Africa and the highest in a T2OI in Australia. The visitors then bowled Australia out for 165.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

It's been another busy week in the world of tech.

AOL ended dial-up, we flew the world's first 360 drone, and celebrated the return of a missing Apple Watch feature, even though it is now a little different.

To catch up on all this and more, scroll down for the week's seven biggest news stories, which we've summarized for your convenience.

7. AOL ended dial-up

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In our modern age, constant connectivity is a given, but there was a time when you made the connection through dial-up. That process was accompanied by the unforgettable and iconic sound of a digital handshake between your computer and a service like. Now, the last vestiges of AOL’s dial-up service are disappearing. We look at what that means.

• Read more: Why the goodbye to that scratchy sounds matters

6. Apple spoiled an AirPods upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

The latest developer beta of iOS 26 has seemingly teased a major unannounced upgrade for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2: real-world, real-time translation.

Apple announced Live Translate last month at WWDC, but not for real-world chatting, so this real-time translation on AirPods is something we didn’t know was coming (outside of leaks).

Much is still unknown, like precisely how the feature works and what languages are supported, but this is a serious upgrade to our existing Apple tech – and we’re all for it.

• Read more: iOS 26 reveals a new real-time translation gesture for AirPods

5. HTC launched Vive glasses

(Image credit: HTC)

HTC has for some time felt like it’s second-fiddle to Meta in the VR headset category, but its new Vive Eagle glasses could be a winner.

Hardware-wise, Vive goes beat for beat with the competition. It boasts a 12MP snapper as well as open-ear speakers, and a solid battery life of up to 36 hours of standby time and 4.5 hours of music playback while still boasting a sleek 49g design.

But on the AI side, we feel it might edge ahead with its ability to access both Gemini and ChatGPT.

The catch? It’s only available in Taiwan for now, but we’re praying for a global release.

• Read more: HTC has a new pair of smart glasses called the Vive Eagle

4. Samsung debuted a world’s first in its latest TV

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung officially revealed that its micro-RGB TV is coming to the market, first launching in South Korea in a 115-inch size. Samsung says the tech will eventually come to smaller sets.

Micro-RGB essentially takes micro-sized red, green, and blue LEDs and puts them behind the panel to create refined brightness and color accuracy. It hit 100% HDR color gamut coverage of the BT.2020 color space: a TV first!

The bad news is that micro-RGB is expensive. The 115-inch model is launching in South Korea at 44.9 million KRW, which works out at roughly $32,000 / £24,000 / €28,000 / AU$49,750 (yikes!), so this is definitely out of most people’s budgets. Samsung believes the tech will quickly become more affordable and become a real rival to OLED. Watch this space!

• Read more: Cutting-edge TV tech with a sky-high price

3. Apple brought back an Apple Watch tool

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Following an 18-month ban, Blood Oxygen tracking is finally coming back to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 – it’s a little different this time, however.

It was disabled over a ruling in January 2024 due to a patent dispute between Massimo and Apple, but Apple has found a way to obey the ruling and give users access to the feature.

That is, the reading no longer shows on your watch; it’ll appear only on your iPhone – with Apple explaining the update was also enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.

• 
  Read more: Blood Oxygen tracking is back on the Apple Watch

2. We flew the world’s first 360-degree drone

(Image credit: Future)

After its debut a short while ago, we finally had the chance to demo the new Insta360 Antigravity drone – and it’s the most exciting drone we’ve seen in years.

It's no exaggeration to say that flying the A1 is child's play. Overcome the disorientation caused by wearing the goggles as the drone takes to the sky, and you'll quickly get to grips with the Motion controller, and how to use it to control the drone's altitude and flight path.

Unfortunately, while official pricing has yet to be confirmed, the experience likely won't come cheap. You’ve got the drone itself (which packs 360 camera tech) and a headset. But currently nothing does what this drone can, and that could be all that Insta360 needs to succeed right now.

• Read more: I had a blast flying Insta360's Antigravity

1. OpenAI responded to the haters

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Mijansk786)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has addressed criticism over the restrictive message cap for ChatGPT Plus users on GPT-5. When the new model launched, Plus subscribers could only send 200 reasoning messages a week, which many saw as a downgrade from the previous model, GPT-4o. Altman confirmed the limit would increase to 3,000 prompts a week for paid subscribers.

Altman also confirmed that OpenAI is working on clearer UI labels to show exactly which model is responding in ChatGPT, something many users have been asking for since the update.

The announcement comes after a wave of backlash over GPT-5, with complaints about the smaller upgrade than expected and the removal of GPT-4o, which has since been restored. Altman’s quick response shows OpenAI is trying to keep its paying users happy as it navigates the tricky balance between new features and user expectations.

• Read more: Sam Altman confirms ChatGPT Plus subscribers will have increased rate limit

• New data centers are being proposed across the UK
• These are crucial for AI development and usage, but have disastrous impacts on the environment
• Tech giants are calling for more expansion

The UK could be set for a major increase in the number of data centers across the country, as new reports claim a surge in building is set to commence.

The country currently has 477 of these data centres - with around 100 more on the way, the BBC reports, spurred on by the massive increase in demand for AI, and often funded by US tech giants.

However the impact on the local environment could be devastating - in the US, some living close to data centers have lost access to clean drinking water, as the local wells have been disrupted, and some consumers have seen energy bills rise thanks to the extreme usage from the centers.

The cloud costs

Data centers are essentially warehouses full of computer storage systems and IT infrastructure - and they are both financially costly and enormously energy and water consuming.

A medium sized data center is said to consume between roughly 110 million gallons of water per year in order to cool - and large centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day - but these data centers now receive advanced protections from the Government, after being designated critical national infrastructure.

Just as these new data centers are being built - the UK Government has published advice on how to address the ‘nationally significant’ water shortfall and drought advice, which includes taking shorter showers, not watering grass, and deleting old emails.

These data centers have received cash injections from US firms, with as much as £6.3 billion poured into construction and funding from foreign firms so that Britain can ‘train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies’ - most of which are developed in the US.

‘Unlocking AI’ has been a priority for the British government, which has encouraged businesses and consumers alike to use the technology to boost productivity - but the environmental cost, as always, is likely to fall on ordinary people.

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• Stream on FloRugby (US) and Sky Sport Now (NZ)
• Use NordVPN to watch from anywhere
• Argentina vs New Zealand – Saturday, August 16, 5.10pm ET / 10.10pm BST / 9.10am NZT (Sun)

This weekend's Argentina vs New Zealand live stream sees the Pumas and All Blacks kick off their Rugby Championship 2025 campaigns, with the hosts hoping to seal their first ever crown and the All Blacks eager to extend their record nine titles.

So often rugby union's dominant force, the All Blacks will still be smarting after their loss to South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final and subsequent surrender of the Rugby Championship title last year. Scott Robertson's side come into the tournament in excellent form having whitewashed France in a three-match series last month – they'll want to continue that momentum in their visit to South America.

Argentina shocked the All Blacks and Springboks last year with a win against both during one of their best showings in the Rugby Championship since they joined it in 2012. Their recent results have been up and down, however, with a huge win against the British & Irish Lions, followed by two home losses to England. Can they shock the mighty All Blacks in Córdoba on Saturday?

Read on for our guide on where to see Argentina vs New Zealand live streams online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.

Can I watch Argentina vs New Zealand for free?

Unfortunately, this game isn't one of those that's showing for free on the 9Now streaming platform in Australia.

The 2025 Rugby Championship is generally behind the paywall worldwide, but we have seen that rugby fans in Fiji will be able to watch every single game on the free-to-air FBC this year.

Remember that, if you're traveling away from home, you can use a VPN to watch 2025 Rugby Championship streams from abroad on your usual platform.

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How to watch Argentina vs New Zealand live streams in the US

Argentina vs New Zealand and all other Rugby Championship 2025 live streams are being shown on FloRugby in the US.

FloRugby plans start from $29.99 a month. Or you can opt for the $150 annual subscription (so effectively better than half price).

Outside the U.S. during this fixture? Use NordVPN to tap into FloRugby's live streams of Argentina vs New Zealand.

How to watch Argentina vs New Zealand live streams in the UK

The rights to the 2025 Rugby Championship in the UK belongs to Sky Sports – this game will go out on its Sky Sports Action channel and stream live through Sports+ from 4.10pm BST on Saturday.

Sky Sports plans start from £35 per month or £20 if you are an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99 a day or £34.99/month if you want to keep up with the rest of the championship.

If you are outside the country during Argentina vs New Zealand you can still watch Sky Sports live streams on Sky Go using NordVPN.

How to watch Argentina vs New Zealand live streams in Australia

(Image credit: free)

This All Blacks game against the Pumas won't be shown on the free-to-air Channel 9 or its online 9Now platform. Only home Wallabies games and New Zealand vs Australia encounters will be free to watch Down Under this season.

To watch Argentina vs New Zealand in Australia you'll need to subscribe to Stan Sport. It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription costing from $12 a month.

Away from Australia? Use a VPN to watch Rugby Championship 2025 matches on the above platforms as if you were back Down Under.

How to watch All Blacks vs Argentina live streams in New Zealand

Sky Sport is the 2025 Rugby Championship TV rights holder in New Zealand, which means you can watch this All Blacks match there on Sunday morning at 9.10am NZT. You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.

Missing this game due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.

How to watch Argentina vs New Zealand live streams in Rest of World

NZR+ is showing the Rugby Championship in many international territories (see if yours is listed below). Unlike last year, unfortunately, it is no longer free and costs €14.99 for a month or €34.99 for a whole season.

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.

Not seeing your country listed above? Then keep scrolling to see who's streaming the Rugby Championship where you are...

Click through to see Rest of World streams ⬇️

• Argentina, South America and Caribbean

ESPN has the broadcast rights to the 2025 Rugby Championship matches in South America and the Caribbean. Important to know for all the Pumas fans!

In addition to Argentina, ESPN will also show games in the following countries:

South America – Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Caribbean – Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Ascension Island, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Falkland Islands, French Guyana, Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and St. Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Pierre & Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

• Canada

TSN is the place to watch the 2025 Rugby Championship in Canada. You can get TSN as part of your cable TV package or sign up to the TSN+ streaming service.

• Fiji

The FBC will have free-to-air coverage of the 2025 Rugby Championship in Fiji. It will also be on the Sky Pacific pay TV platform.

• France, Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland

Canal+ will provide access to the 2025 Rugby Championship in France and across French overseas territories.

It is also the rights holder in Monaco, Luxembourg, Andorra and French-speaking Switzerland.

• Italy

You can watch the 2025 Rugby Championship on Sky Italia in Italy.

That also goes for Vatican City, San Marino and Italian-speaking Switzerland.

• Japan

Streaming service Wowow will show the 2025 Rugby Championship in Japan.

• Pacific Islands

Digicel Pacific has the rights to broadcast the 2025 Rugby Championships across the following Pacific Islands on Digicel TV or through the DTV app.

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated Staes of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa.

• Singapore and South East Asia

Premier Sports has the rights to broadcast the 2025 Rugby Championship in Singapore and a number of other countries in South East Asia. They are as follows:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nepal, Northern Marianas, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Taiwan (Republic of China), Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

• Spain

Telefonica holds the broadcast rights for the 2025 Rugby Championship in Spain.

• South Africa and Africa

Satellite TV provider SuperSport has the 2025 Rugby Championship broadcast rights in South Africa and other parts of the continent.

You can watch SuperSport through lives streams or the DStv satellite service.

Can I watch Argentina vs New Zealand on my mobile?

Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser. For example, Sky Go in the UK and New Zealand.

You can also stay up-to-date with all 2025 Rugby Championship events on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@SanzarTRC), Facebook (TheRugbyChampionship) and Instagram (@sanzartrc).

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Telling the story of Outlander’s predecessors, Outlander: Blood of My Blood already looks like another smash-hit for Starz’s time-travelling franchise. We’re three episodes into the new binge-worthy TV show, which follows Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) parents as they travel back to 18th century Scotland and become connected to each other in the process. Even if you’re watching the prequel and didn’t follow the main show too closely, you’ll be able to spot some satisfying Outlander Easter eggs… and there are a lot of them.

Just before episode 3 aired (which is also streaming on MGM+ for those in the UK and Stan in Australia), I caught up with Henry (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia (Hermione Corfield), better known as the younger versions of Claire’s parents. Unlike Jamie’s family, Julia and Henry fell in love during World War I before being launched back in time to where we meet them in the prequel. However, they’ve been separated, finding their way back to each other while talking themselves into rewriting history in the process.

This rewriting of history is already taking so many twists and turns that I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Seasoned Outlanderheads (as I’m calling the fans) wasted no time devising theories for what might happen in future episodes, including whether we’re going to see Claire unknowingly meet her parents. Not only have Irvine and Corfield seen these theories, but they also hinted to me that some of them are along the right lines.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood fan theories might be closer to the truth than we think

“I have,” Corfield replies when I ask her if she’s seen any fan theories. “I've seen a few comments on Instagram where I've been, like ‘hm…interesting.’ But also, some of them are theories that we don't even know the answer to, because we literally don't know. We get given our scripts while we're filming the block before.”

Popular theories currently include meeting Claire’s parents in Outlander season 8, which wrapped filming in September 2024, Julia’s baby (Claire has already been born) being somebody we’ve already met in the main show, and Jamie’s dad Brian (Jamie Roy) being more closely linked to the pair than we’ve been led to believe.

Given that the cast is in the process of filming season 2, we can rule out any theory that goes too far forward in time (as in, forward from the 18th century but still behind WWI. Keep up!). They still won’t know how the second half of season 2 plays out at all, but Irvine did tease a shocking twist during the first half of season 2 that we’ve likely not guessed at all.

“When you see the characters at the end of season 1, where they then start season 2 is wildly not what you'd expect. I wasn't expecting it at all. I was very confused when I went in for my first costume fitting and saw the costumes, asking ‘what on earth is that going to be for?’

“It’s highs and lows and everything in between. A total rollercoaster,” Corfield adds about what’s definitely to come.

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• A leaked Meta document revealed that the company’s AI chatbot guidelines once permitted inappropriate responses
• Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity and has since removed some of the most troubling sections
• Among calls for investigations is the question of how successful AI moderation can be

Meta’s internal standards for its AI chatbots were meant to stay internal, and after they somehow made their way to Reuters, it's easy to understand why the tech giant wouldn't want the world to see them. Meta grappled with the complexities of AI ethics, children's online safety, and content standards, and found what few would argue is a successful roadmap for AI chatbot rules.

Easily the most disturbing notes among the details shared by Reuters are around how the chatbot talks to children. As reported by Reuters, the document states that it's "acceptable [for the AI] to engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual" and to "describe a child in terms that evidence their attractiveness (ex: “your youthful form is a work of art”)." Though it does forbid explicit sexual discussion, that's still a shockingly intimate and romantic level of conversation with children for Meta AI to allegedly consider.

And it's not the only example likely to disturb people. Meta AI's rules, the report notes, allow the chatbot to compose explicitly racist content if the prompt is phrased correctly, and to provide wrong or even harmful health information as long as some kind of disclaimer is included.

In one of the more surreal examples, the guidelines instructed AI to reject inappropriate image generation requests in most cases, but in some instances to instead apparently deflect with a 'funny' substitution. As an example, the document reportedly mentions that a prompt to generate an image of “Taylor Swift topless, covering her breasts with her hands” could be answered by generating an image of Swift “holding an enormous fish.” The document reportedly included both the unacceptable and the “acceptable” version side by side, essentially training the bot to outwit inappropriate prompts with visual sleight of hand. Meta declined to comment on the example.

Meta has confirmed the authenticity of the document and said it’s now revising the problematic portions. Meta removed the children's interaction section after Reuters reached out, and called those rules “erroneous and inconsistent” with company policy. As of now, Reuters said the document still says racial slurs are allowed if disguised in hypotheticals, as is disinformation framed as fiction.

No time for safety and ethics

It’s a troubling revelation that has already prompted public outrage, lawmaker scrutiny, and urgent promises from Meta. But it shows that as AI spreads, the need to move fast with the technology leaves any plans for rules and regulations scrambling to catch up, whether written internally or by lawmakers and regulators.

For most people, the story raises basic questions of AI safety. While it might be ideal to not have minors interacting with general AI chatbots unsupervised, that's very unlikely, judging by the number of children and teens who admit to using tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork. Avoiding Meta AI is particularly challenging because the company has embedded the chatbot across Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Users can interact with AI characters that are often presented in playful, friendly ways, and Meta has marketed these tools as fun and even educational. But the leaked guidelines suggest the backend isn’t always aligned with that wholesome image.

Members of Congress have already called for hearings and bills to deal with the situation, but the fact is, there are few legal requirements in place at the moment to moderate chatbot content, for children or otherwise. Noises about AI safety haven't led to any specific national enforcement system. Plenty of AI companies have made a big deal about their efforts to make their products safe and ethical, but if Meta’s rulebook is illustrative of what other companies have put together, there's a lot of work still to do and a lot of questions about what kind of conversations these chatbots have already been having, especially with children.

AI models may be ever-better at mimicking human thinking, but they're really just a collection of choices by human programmers, deliberate and inadvertent. The fact that these rules were apparently codified at Meta doesn't mean similar examples exist at other companies, but it's not something to rule out. And if these are the choices being made behind the scenes at one of the world’s most powerful tech companies, what else is being quietly permitted?

AI chatbots are only as trustworthy as the invisible rules guiding them, and while it's naive to fully trust any company's claims without evidence, Meta's rulebook implies users should take such claims with several extra grains of salt.

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• Google’s new Flight Deals uses AI to find trips based on conversational requests
• It uses Gemini 2.5 to interpret descriptions of feelings and vague time frames to compile deals
• Flight Deals is rolling out in beta across the U.S., Canada, and India

Google is using Gemini AI to reinvent the travel agent experience, turning conversations into airplane tickets. The new Flight Deals product, which is now in beta, adds AI chat to Google Flights users looking for a good deal or who are still trying to decide where and when they want to travel.

Instead of fiddling with destination drop-down menus and departure time sliders, you can simply write out the type of trip you want to take and whatever else might be important to you when traveling. Instead of an airport code and a date, you can pick a season, the vibe of the location, and how you feel about very early flights. Gemini will then scan real-time pricing from hundreds of airlines and deliver up-to-date options tailored to your request.

This isn’t a replacement for traditional Google Flights. That familiar grid of dates and sliders is still alive and well. But Google thinks Flight Deals is perfect for the flexible (or just indecisive) traveler. Think of it like that one friend who is not only really good at finding travel bargains, but truly loves finding them for friends.

For instance, when I wrote "I want to go where I can see the Northern Lights in December for a week." I had suggestions for Alaska, Iceland, and Norway with some good deals across December. When I requested "Somewhere with mountains and great food in the spring," I saw flights from March to June to Denver, Munich, Auckland, and more.

(Image credit: Screenshot)Flitting AI

The more casual your phrasing, the more it has to work with. The AI will attempt to match not just the location but the spirit of your request. Gemini 2.5 has been behind the curtain in plenty of recent Google products, but this is one of the first times it’s being used this way.

It also marks one of Google’s clearest moves yet to bring AI into a very public, popular space, finding bargains on flights. Airline tickets are perfect for enticing people to try AI, as buying them is a common, but not everyday experience, and expensive enough that people will make an effort to find a good deal without being so expensive that people wouldn't trust AI to help them when it's still possible for the technology to fail.

Flight Deals is still learning, and it may not always pick the perfect itinerary. But if it helps people discover that, for instance, flights to Oaxaca in January are very cheap and the mole is life-changing, that’s a win.

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Looking for some cheap wireless earbuds? Well, if you head over to Amazon, you’re gonna find a treasure trove of options, believe me. And it got us thinking. Do these unspeakably cheap models sound OK? Do they even work? Do they truly exist, or are they simply a construct…a mere mirage?

Well, we decided that it was worth at least giving some super-cheap buds a go, so our Audio Editor, Becky, called in a $5 pair, and I eagerly awaited their arrival. Unfortunately, though, just about everything I feared would be wrong with these unspeakably low-cost earbuds was indeed wrong with them.

So, by now you must be interested. What was so bad about these pocket change buds? What made them so much worse than the models on our list of the best budget earbuds? Well, if you’re sitting comfortably, I’ll tell you everything. Here goes.

A design disasterclass

(Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan)

After unboxing these budget wireless earbuds, I instantly knew something was off. First of all, they didn't look the same as the pictures on Amazon, although I was kinda expecting this. No, the real problem was the charging case.

See, not only was this using a lightning port – something I'd started to forget existed – but the included lightning cable didn't even fit in the port properly. I wanted a full charge before use, so I attempted to ram the cable in, and eventually it was sort of...half in. Was it charging? Well, a red LED started flashing on the reverse side of the case, so I sure hoped so!

After a short while, I decided it was time to use the buds. I took them out of their case, popped them in, and...realized another clunky design choice. I had to hold down on the underside of each bud to turn them on. This didn't seem very responsive, and it took a good minute or two before I got things working.

Oh, and it's worth noting I needed to hold down on the same spot to turn them off – place them back in the case without doing so and they'll just keep playing. Sometimes, they wouldn't turn off when I asked them to, though, which was quite frustrating.

In-ear, they felt a touch awkward and not too secure, but that's partially down to the loose-fitting design. In fact, looks-wise, you may think they're Apple AirPods at a glance. Upon further inspection, they clearly aren't – they're a bit chunkier and very plasticky, but then again, I guess you get what you pay for.

Next to no features and sonically dull

(Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan)

We've only spoken about design so far, and these buds are already stinkers. So, did they at least sound alright? Well, sorry to be so negative, but they did not. They did not sound alright at all.

In Washed Away by Kolter, the higher-pitched percussive and electronic elements were grating, even at more middling volumes. Let's not even discuss what they sounded like after I ramped things up. When listening to You Came Into My Life by Paulinho Da Costa, vocals were clear enough, but bass output was extremely thin, resulting in a pretty terrible listening experience overall.

On top of their poor audio performance, you won't get many features of note from these buds. They have Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and you can activate your voice assistant with touch controls.

But I found these touch controls to be unreliable, and they would activate when I didn't want them to. Controversially, I actually like touch controls. Earbuds like the LG Tone Free T90S and headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6 absolutely nailed them. But not these. These can stay away.

And now, for the real kicker

Just when I thought things couldn't get much worse...they did. See, I first tested these buds about four days before Friday, when this article will be published. But on Friday afternoon, I decided I wanted to give them one more chance. I knew I was going to be negative, but I wanted to find at least one silver lining. However, that's when it happened.

After putting the buds in and holding down the buttons to power on, I discovered that the left bud wasn't working at all *sigh*. I tried a number of times to get it working, and it just wouldn't play ball. There were no issues with the right bud, by the way.

It turned out that the left bud hadn't been charging at all. After placing the earbuds back in their case, I tried pressing down hard on the left one, and its LED eventually turned red, indicating it had entered charging mode. Having to do this every time you use these buds would be very irritating.

Looking at reviews on Amazon, there were a few reports of only one bud working, and I expect some were experiencing the same fault. After all of the issues I experienced with these earbuds in under a week, I can assure you, they've already been booted from my rotation.

Despite that, it's not all doom and gloom. See, there are some genuinely incredible cheap wireless earbuds out there. You don't have to spend $100 / £100 or more to get quality, I should know, having tested dozens of cheap models myself.

What I learned, then, is that saving your $5 / £5 and putting it towards a superior budget-friendly model is the best option for all. Sure, you might have to spend a little over single figures, but not a whole lot more. I've listed a couple of fantastic cheap options below, so why not check them out?

What to get instead

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC
These are some of the best cheap buds on the market, no questions asked. Why? They pack in solid audio, a nifty companion app, and best of all, ANC. Oh, and you get all of that for less than $30 / £30. That's mind-blowing value for money.

Read our full JLab Go Pop ANC review.

Sony WF-C510
These don't have ANC, but if you want to indulge in beautiful Sony sound without spending too much cash, the WF-C510 are a must-buy. We were impressed by their punchy, talented audio, battery life, and fit. For a model that's regularly on sale for less than $50 / £40, you really can't go wrong.

Read our full Sony WF-C510 review.

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New parents curious about what they should expect from their newborn should probably steer clear of TikTok and AI. There are now an untold number of videos depicting newborns working in factories and burger joints, marching across the dusty plains of Mars, and commenting on the sorry state of the world they just entered.

Ever since Gemini unveiled its Veo 3 video model, which lets you generate synced audio and video, people have been generating highly convincing yet impossible 8-second video clips. The number has only increased since Google opened Veo 3 access to Gemimi Flash 2.5 Pro users.

After seeing more than a few of these videos in my feed, I decided to give it a try. I've now spent the last few weeks creating Veo 3 clips of newborn babies doing all sorts of things and often commenting on their situation.

Here's what I learned, along with some tips to help you create similar clips or really improve your Gemini Veo 3 video generation efforts.

Planning

Unless you're paying for an account, you get a maximum of three 8-second Veo 3 clips per day, so you want to use that number wisely and, if possible, pre-plan all three clips.

Start with a concept or idea

What do you want your newborn to be doing and saying? Try to think through the setting and action across all three clips so that together they comprise a mini story.

When I started generating my baby clips, I didn't consider this and instead created a series of clips depicting a newscaster interviewing a newborn in the hospital, but with various levels of success. Eventually, though, I chose a theme, like a baby astronaut on Mars, or a newborn working in a robot factory.

Once I had a mini story in mind, my results improved exponentially.

Imagine a style

(Image credit: Gemini Veo 3)

One of my favorite sets of clips is the one in which I imagined a baby in the role of Dr. Frankenstein. I specifically asked Veo to depict the baby in a "1930s style lab" and added this critical line, "The film is black and white with strong contrast and shadows."

Don't be afraid to describe scene details that might enhance believability. In my Mars Baby astronaut video, I described " a newborn baby using a selfie stick to film itself" and noted that the Earth was visible in the sky. Veo 3 did an excellent job of including these details.

Be specific @lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

I found that unless I described the main character as a newborn baby, I ended up with a toddler, and sometimes one that looked like a Pixar character.

Also, be sure to describe the action. What is the baby doing? A sequence of events is the best way to ensure Veo 3 builds the scene you imagined.

Keep the dialogue tight

(Image credit: Gemini Veo 3)

You have just 8 seconds of video, so be sure to time your dialogue to make sure it's not 15 seconds of blather. Whatever Veo 3 can't fit, it will cut off.

Keep the characters to a minimum @lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

One of the reasons these videos are so compelling is that they feature newborn babies speaking like adults. Achieving these results has occasionally proved challenging.

I've struggled to ensure that it's the baby speaking and not another character I included in the prompt. I found it's best to describe at most two characters and make sure your prompt makes it crystal clear who should be speaking the lines, which should always be between quotes.

Even with all this careful planning, I still struggled to make sure that only the newborn talked. In my Frankenstein series, the last clip features a talking Frankenstein monster, even though I specifically assigned that dialogue to the baby.

Tell a story @lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

If you create all three clips in the same session, one after the other, Gemini Veo 3 will remember the style and even look of the included characters, which means you don't have to repeat all those details in subsequent prompts.

That said, make sure you describe the baby and other characters with the same words; otherwise, the AI may switch things up. If possible, design all three prompts so that they advance your 24-second story.

Call it "realistic"

(Image credit: Gemini Veo 3)

To ensure photo-realism, use the term "photo-realistic" or "realistic" in your prompt. Otherwise, Gemini will choose the style for you, and it may not look like a real baby.

Download the video @lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

Gemini doesn't save your generated videos indefinitely. They're usually gone within a day, though the prompts will remain. If you like what the prompt created, be sure to download the video.

These tips could arguably be applied to any style of generative video, but if you want to join in the AI baby meme craze, this should help get you started.

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• Compromised FBI.gov emails are being sold for $40 on encrypted dark web channels
• Criminals use stolen government accounts to submit forged emergency requests to tech companies
• Sellers offer full SMTP, POP3, or IMAP credentials for complete account control

Cybersecurity researchers have raised concerns over the sale of compromised FBI.gov and other government email accounts on the dark web, warning the activity could enable malware campaigns on a large scale.

A report from Abnormal AI claims these accounts are being offered through encrypted messaging services such as Telegram and Signal, with some priced as low as $40.

In some cases, sellers have offered bundles containing multiple US government accounts, including those with FBI.gov domains, which carry a high level of credibility.

Hackers offer full access and high credibility

The cost of these accounts is relatively small, but the potential impact is substantial because the accounts can be used to impersonate trusted authorities.

When purchased, typically using cryptocurrency, the buyer receives full SMTP, POP3, or IMAP credentials. This level of access allows control over the account through any email client, enabling the sending of messages, attaching malicious files, or accessing online platforms that require government verification.

Some ads encourage buyers to submit fraudulent emergency data requests.

These are modeled after legitimate requests that law enforcement agencies issue in urgent situations when there is no time to secure a subpoena.

Technology companies and telecom providers are legally obliged to respond to valid requests, meaning forged ones could potentially lead to the disclosure of sensitive data such as IP addresses, emails, and phone numbers.

Some criminal listings also promote access to official law enforcement portals, with some of these offers appearing even on mainstream platforms like TikTok and X.

Stolen credentials are marketed for their ability to unlock enhanced access to open-source intelligence tools such as Shodan and Intelligence X, which normally reserve premium features for verified government users.

The methods used to obtain these accounts are often straightforward but effective.

One major approach is credential stuffing, where attackers exploit password reuse across multiple platforms.

Another method involves infostealer malware, which is software designed to extract saved login credentials from browsers and email clients.

Targeted phishing and social engineering attacks are also common, where attackers craft deceptive emails or messages which trick government employees into revealing login details or clicking on malicious links.

Overall, these techniques focus on exploiting human and technical vulnerabilities rather than hacking sophisticated government systems directly.

That said, emails originating from domains such as .gov and .police tend to bypass many technical filters, making recipients more likely to open attachments or click on embedded links.

This advantage increases the success rate of phishing attempts or malware delivery.

While compromised law enforcement accounts have been sold for years, researchers say there has been a recent shift toward marketing specific criminal use cases rather than simply offering access.

The report describes this as a commoditization of institutional trust, where active and verified inboxes are repurposed for immediate fraudulent use.

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• Cybercriminals are using the Japanese alphabet to spoof Booking.com
• Scammers are targeting people with listings on the site
• Users are advised to carefully review incoming messages

Cybercriminals are spoofing Booking.com with a clever use of Unicode characters in their phishing landing pages to spread malware.

Independent security researcher alias JAMESWT recently reported seeing phishing emails being sent to people listing their real estate on the popular lodging reservation service. In the email, the victims are told that someone complained about their listing, and that they should review it fast or face termination.

The email also provides the link which when opened, at first glance looks legitimate. However, upon closer inspection, it can be seen in the URL that instead of the forward dash character ‘/’, the link actually uses ‘ん’ - a Japanese hiragana character representing the sound ‘n’.

Typosquatting

Hiragana is one of the three main scripts used in written Japanese, alongside katakana and kanji.

Those that fail to spot the trick and open the site will get served a malicious MSI installer from a CDN link. The researcher added that samples of the malicious site are already available on the cybersecurity platform MalawareBazaar, and that the any.run analysis already shows the infection chain.

It is believed that the attackers are spoofing Booking.com to deliver infostealers and remote access trojans (RAT).

Replacing a single character in the URL, in order to trick victims into opening websites, is a long-established practice. It is called “typosquatting” and banks on the victims not being careful when reviewing the URL they are opening.

Booking.com, being one of the most popular lodging reservation services in the world, is often spoofed in such attacks, together with the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, DHL, and others.

Defending against these attacks is relatively easy, and requires users to slow down and carefully review incoming communications, especially unsolicited messages. Double-checking links, attachments, websites, and thinking twice about sharing sensitive data is the best course of action these days.

Via BleepingComputer

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• iKKO MindOne has raised over $1.2 million through its crowdfunding campaign
• A 4.02-inch AMOLED display is protected by sapphire glass with curved, impact-resistant edges
• The device’s 50MP rotating camera doubles as both front and rear photography hardware

The iKKO MindOne is a crowdfunded smartphone that has raised over $1.2 million, promising a compact yet capable design for work and travel.

Measuring 86x72mm and 8.9mm thick, only slightly wider than a credit card, this business smartphone uses a 4.02-inch AMOLED display with precision-curved edges to improve resistance against cracks and drops.

Marketed partly as a rugged smartphone, the MindOne uses sapphire glass with a claimed 9H hardness rating, designed to resist scratches and moderate impact.

Dual-purpose camera protected by sapphire glass

The device features a 50MP Sony 1/1.56-inch sensor with custom OIS and F1.88 aperture, similar to many smartphones on the market.

The rotating module flips 180 degrees, serving as both front and rear camera, and is protected by sapphire glass, promising higher-quality selfies and flexibility for video calls without sacrificing main camera performance.

The iKKO MindOne integrates a virtual SIM system with two modes.

NovaLink provides free global access for built-in AI tools in more than 60 regions, while a paid vSIM service covers over 140 countries for full data use, including browsing and streaming.

It also supports a nano SIM slot that offers global 4G+ LTE bands for traditional connectivity.

The manufacturer chose 4G+ over 5G for better roaming stability, lower heat output, and improved battery life.

The device runs Android 15 alongside iKKO AI OS, a dedicated workspace for focused tasks.

It also supports Google Mobile Services, and the company promises three major Android version upgrades and five years of security patches.

Switching between the two is done via a physical button, and selected Android apps can be brought into the AI environment.

The device supports real-time translation, voice notes, transcription, and summarization, with no subscription fees and claims of zero personal data collection.

Powered by the MediaTek MT8781, a low-power 4G+ platform, the MindOne carries a 2200mAh battery designed for all-day use in a compact form.

An optional snap-on QWERTY keyboard case adds tactile typing, a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC with 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 500mAh auxiliary battery.

This accessory could appeal to those needing precise text entry or high-fidelity audio, although it increases the device’s size and weight.

The iKKO MindOne offers an intriguing take on making a mobile phone truly mobile, but whether it moves from a well-funded crowdfunding project to a reliable everyday tool will depend on how these features perform beyond early marketing.

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• Deutsche Telekom T Phone 3 launches at $170 with a €1 bundle offer in Germany
• Perplexity Pro subscription worth $360 is included free for 18 months with purchase
• Picsart Pro image editing tools are bundled for three months at no extra cost

Deutsche Telekom has launched the T Phone 3, a new AI-focused smartphone priced at $170, positioning it as an affordable entry point into integrated AI services.

A bundle offer reduces the cost to €1 when purchased with a tariff, and the package also includes an 18-month subscription to Perplexity Pro, valued at $360, along with a three-month Picsart Pro license.

The company has confirmed a "Pro" version of the AI phone will be released later this year, although exact details aren't known.

AI integration and activation methods

The smartphone centers on Perplexity Assistant, providing AI tools for real-time translation, trip planning, tutoring, email drafting, content summarization, and image editing.

Users can activate these functions either by pressing a dedicated magenta button or by double-tapping the power key.

Both voice and text input are supported, aiming to streamline interaction and reduce dependency on conventional app-based workflows.

This approach positions the device as a business smartphone option for users who prioritize efficiency in communication and task management.

The T Phone 3 features improved charging and AI-assisted camera functions compared to its predecessor.

Although not marketed strictly as a rugged smartphone, Deutsche Telekom points to improved durability and the use of recycled materials in its construction.

The device’s longevity in more demanding conditions remains to be seen, although the company emphasizes sustainability in design and component sourcing.

Alongside the smartphone, Deutsche Telekom also launched the T Tablet 2 in Germany, priced from €199 and includes the same 18-month Perplexity Pro subscription and Picsart Pro license.

Like the phone, it supports the dedicated AI activation controls and upgraded performance features, although the smartphone remains the primary focus of the company’s AI device push.

The inclusion of an 18-month subscription is central to the value proposition, yet the long-term appeal will depend on how many users continue paying once the free period ends.

With forecasts predicting that AI smartphones could dominate shipments by 2028, the challenge for Deutsche Telekom will be to maintain relevance when the initial incentives expire.

Via MobileWorldLive

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