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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Better protection

(Image credit: Skechers)

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

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

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

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

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

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

We're seeing plenty of leaks and rumors in the run up to the official unveiling of the Google Pixel 10 series, which is happening on Wednesday, August 20. The latest leaks to reach us cover pricing and on-sale availability, and it's good news in both cases.

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

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

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

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

When can you buy one?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microsoft spending big

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Future / Cas Kulk)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time for Samsung to unleash the foldable beast

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

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

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

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

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• Apple has released an important new update for macOS Sequoia
• The update prevents a potential bricking issue for users utilizing DFU mode for device recovery
• It may be the last macOS Sequoia update before macOS Tahoe 26's arrival

Apple's macOS Tahoe 26 is now on the horizon, slated for release later this year. However, Apple isn't quite done with macOS Sequoia, and it's just released an important update for Mac users.

As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has released macOS Sequoia 15.6, a new update with an important bug fix. This resolves an issue with Finder and Apple Configurator's inability to restore devices from DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode, which could result in a bricked device if unsuccessful.

Users would need to specifically enter DFU mode (which serves as an alternative to recovery mode for device restoration) for this to occur. While users who aren't planning on using DFU may still be safe on Sequoia 15.5 (and older), it's better to eliminate the chance of bricking a device entirely by updating to Sequoia 15.6.

This could be one of the last updates of Sequoia we see before it eventually bows out to Tahoe 26, which promises a variety of improvements to the macOS experience – it's already available in public beta, and it looks set to be ideal for multitaskers and gamers.

With new tools like MetalFX Frame Interpolation, a Game Overlay, and an upgraded Game Porting Tool kit, macOS Tahoe 26 is another step in the right direction for Apple and its gaming support.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Analysis: macOS Tahoe 26's features are making me wish I had an M-series MacBook...

Having only used Intel-powered MacBooks, I've been debating a potential switch from Windows laptops to M-series MacBooks for a while now – and the arrival of macOS Tahoe 26 looks like the perfect time for it.

I'm a big gamer (if that wasn't clear enough already), and I'm not opposed to spending a hefty sum when a laptop can provide exceptional performance in productivity and multitasking, alongside gaming. Yes, gaming laptops exist, but MacBooks using the latest M-series chips look like the ideal answer due to their power efficiency.

I'm growing tired of Windows for gaming, and I'd rather use SteamOS for its console-like UI and better game performance – but using Discord for streaming to friends on SteamOS' game mode, isn't a simple task. Until that's addressed, I'll stick to SteamOS/Bazzite for handhelds exclusively.

As for gaming on a laptop, macOS is becoming a more appealing operating system after each update, especially with a growing game library with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Resident Evil 4 remake on Macs. Apple is continuously proving that gaming is on its radar, and it might just convince me to join the party.

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• Xbox Game Pass reached "nearly $5 billion" in revenue over the last year
• Microsoft's FY25 Q4 results reveal that Xbox gaming revenue is up by 10% year-over-year, and Xbox content and services are up by 13%
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also says that there are 500 million monthly active users across gaming platforms and devices

Microsoft has shared a new milestone for Xbox Game Pass, which attained "nearly $5 billion" in revenue for the first time over the last year.

This achievement was announced as part of the company's FY25 Q4 earnings report detailing the results of the last 12 months (ending June 30, 2025), where CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Microsoft has 500 million monthly active users across gaming platforms and devices.

“We are now the top publisher on both Xbox and PlayStation this quarter,” said Nadella. "...Game Pass annual revenue was nearly $5 billion for the first time" (via The Verge).

Overall, Xbox gaming revenue was up by 10% year-over-year, and Xbox content and services revenue, which includes Game Pass and first-party titles, is up by 13% this quarter.

This 13% increase could be attributed to Xbox's multi-platform push, which recently saw Xbox-exclusive games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 come to PS5.

Microsoft didn't share the latest subscriber numbers for the service, so there's no way to know if there has been an increase or decrease in members from 34 million players, which the company revealed in February 2024.

Xbox hardware revenue, however, is down 22% this quarter, which could be a consequence of Microsoft increasing the price of its Xbox Series consoles and accessories earlier this year.

Along with hardware price hikes, Microsoft also announced in May that some first-party titles will also be increased to $80 to match the cost of Nintendo Switch 2 games.

However, this plan may be subject to change as the company has since lowered the price of both The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4.

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• Meta is set to almost double its AI infrastructure spending
• Meta looks to keep pace with major AI rivals
• AI infrastructure comes at a huge environmental cost

As governments and private companies around the world announce huge AI infrastructure plans, Meta has become the latest to announce a major spending spree.

In its most recent quarterly financial results, the company announced an expansion of spending to around $66-$72 billion - more than doubling its spending on data centres and servers.

“We expect that developing leading AI infrastructure will be a core advantage in developing the best AI models and product experiences, so we expect to ramp our investments significantly in 2026 to support that work,” Susan Li, Meta CFO, said during the company’s earnings call.

Costly infrastructure

The move comes shortly after Meta’s shares jumped more than 10%, thanks largely to advertising business success, where AI-driven ad creation tools allow users to generate video ads from images, helping prompt better conversion rates.

Meta says it expects a similar jump in spending onwards in 2026, as the firm looks to “aggressively [pursue] opportunities to bring additional capacity online to meet the needs of [its] artificial intelligence efforts and business operations.”

Meta isn’t alone, as Microsoft has also announced plans to spend billions on AI, announcing over $30 billion capital investment as it expands AI capacity in a bid to keep up with the likes of Amazon - which itself is set to spend up to $111 billion in 2025, with the majority going towards tech and infrastructure.

This infrastructure, primarily referring to data centres and large servers, is costly in more ways than one. It would be disingenuous to talk about data centre spending without mentioning the enormous environmental costs associated with the infrastructure.

Data centres consume massive amounts of energy and water - depleting local water sources and putting huge strain on already labored energy grids.

Local communities are being hit hard by nearby data centre constructions - with data centres in Texas using 463 million gallons of water, as residents are instructed to take shorter showers to offset the usage.

In Georgia, residents living in proximity to Meta’s own data centre, can no longer drink their water, with taps running dry thanks to added sediment in local wells. The cost of municipal water has skyrocketed, and the county water commission may face a shortage.

Via: TechCrunch

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• Epson has announced the LS9000, an entry-level model in its Pro Cinema projector lineup
• The LS9000 has a specified 2,200 lumens of white (ISO rated) and color (IDMS rated) brightness
• The LS9000 features dual HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support for gaming

Epson today announced the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 4K 3LCD Laser Projector. The new lower-cost entry in the company’s Pro Cinema projector lineup is making its debut this week at the Audio Advice Live show, which takes place August 1-3, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Priced at $3,999 (around £2,995 / AU$6,135), the Epson LS9000 provides a more affordable alternative to the Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 ($5,999), currently the top pick in our best projectors guide. Like that model, the new LS9000 is a 4K 3LCD model with HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG support. It also uses a laser light source rated for 20,000 hours and has a motorized lens with powered zoom, focus, and +/- 96% vertical and up to +/- 24% horizontal lens shift.

With 2,200 lumens of white (ISO rated) and color (IDMS rated) brightness, the LS9000 isn’t as powerful as the LS12000, which is rated for 2,700 lumens of white brightness. But like that model, it features 4K 120Hz support on its dual HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming (eARC and ARC are also supported).

Epson’s ZX Picture Processor performs real-time frame interpolation and picture enhancement on the LS9000, which also features a powered lens cover that slides into place when the projector is powered off. A memory zoom option lets you use the projector with ultra-wide 2.35:1 screens, and it also supports third-party anamorphic lenses for use with the same.

A cheaper Pro Series? We’ll take itImage 1 of 3

The new LS9000 is the entry-level model in Epson's Pro Cinema projector lineup (Image credit: Epson)Image 2 of 3

A powered lens cover slides into place when the LS9000 is powered off (Image credit: Epson)Image 3 of 3

Connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Epson)

At CEDIA Expo 2024, Epson debuted the Epson Q-Series, a trio of 4K laser projectors aimed at the high-end residential market. What distinguished these from other Epson projectors was the Q-Series’ high brightness specifications, starting at 3,300 lumens for the QB1000, with up to 10,000 lumens for the flagship Epson QL7000.

Such high light output makes the Q-Series a perfect option for open-format media rooms or living rooms, where some degree of ambient lighting is preferred.

With 2,200 lumens of brightness, the new LS9000 is aimed more at traditional dark-room home theaters, where the projector’s two-speed Dynamic Contrast adjustment will allow it to project crisp 4K movies with powerful contrast (Epson’s contrast ratio specs cite over 2.5 million to one).

The LS9000’s dual HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support also make it a great option for gaming with next-gen consoles or PCs. And at $3,999, Epson’s latest is a more reasonably priced gaming projector than other models in its lineup, and it’s also one that should capably do double duty for movies.

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• AI is improving the mean time to identify and contain data breaches
• IBM finds AI users could be saving £600,000 per breach vs. non-users
• Only one-third of UK orgs have deployed AI in security

New IBM data suggests the cost of data breaches could actually be falling as AI becomes more integrated into cybersecurity practices, with companies employing these technologies typically incurring much lower costs than non-users.

The study estimated pro-AI firms incurred £3.11 million in costs compared with £3.78 million for non-users - but despite the potential £600,000+ in savings, fewer than one in three UK organizations have widely deployed AI and automation in security, meaning that many are still facing the consequences.

That said, while artificial intelligence has been seen improving detection, it's also assisting with code generation, meaning that more cybercriminals can access more sophisticated attacks.

AI is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity

With the widespread adoption of AI, companies are now seeing breaches happen when employees use non-approved AI tools – also known as shadow AI. Yet only 31% of the companies surveyed have AI governance policies to manage shadow AI.

Third-party vendor and supply chain compromises were cited as the top UK breach causes, accounting for 18 - with phishing (16%) and compromised credentials (11%) also widely seen.

Although humans remain a key entry point for attackers into an organization, trends have shifted over the past two decades. In 2005, lost or stolen devices accounted for nearly half (45%) of breaches, with 2015 seeing a spike in misconfigured clouds. Ransomware also picked up in 2020.

"The data speaks for itself as organisations implementing robust AI-driven security automation are significantly reducing breach costs," IBM UK&I Cybersecurity Services Leader Georgie Cohen explained.

With artificial intelligence, organizations are unlocking faster response times, with a mean time to identify (MTTI) of 148 days and a mean time to and contain (MTTC) of 42 days (compared with 168 days and 64 days for non-users).

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Comedian Leanne Morgan’s self-titled sitcom has dropped on Netflix as of July 31, 2025, telling the fictionalized story of when her husband has an affair with a younger woman. It’s the sort of structure we saw on the sitcom Reba about 20 years ago, but this time, divorce is an empowering thing. Finding the humor in life and those around her, Leanne is determined to rebuild her life from the ground up.

Frankly, I’m already sold on the new series Leanne, despite only having this much information to go on. A female lead over the age of 50, real-life drama without the sensationalism and genuinely brilliant jokes is more than enough on its own, but there’s layers to the new Netflix comedy. Morgan has been in the comedy game for over 25 years, but there’s a good chance many subscribers have never even heard of her. She oozes charm and – in her own words – “dazzle” (you might have seen her on the most recent episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast), and her Southern drawl is an absolute wonder… she could say anything in the phone book and you’d be hooked on it.

Clearly Morgan’s time in the global spotlight is long overdue, but I’m just as interested in her series co-creator. That’s none other than Chuck Lorre, part of the brains behind the growing Sheldon-verse that includes The Big Bang Theory (TBBT), Young Sheldon and Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. He’s also now got Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on the go, but before that gets legs, fans of the franchise need to see Leanne for one very, very good reason.

Netflix’s new comedy Leanne is exactly the type of modern sitcom we didn’t know we needed to stream

Where something like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage hasn’t quite landed how to adapt the traditional sitcom format for a 2025 audience (think the sound stage, laugh track vibe Young Sheldon left behind in 2017), Leanne has made it into its own. Why have Morgan and Lorre found it so easy? Because you simply can’t help but fall in love with Leanne herself, even if the humor isn’t always doing it for you.

Broadly speaking, the structure of sticking a laugh track over multi-cam filmed comedy scenes just doesn’t work anymore, even if it did for TBBT back in 2007. It’s just not how we connect to what makes us laugh anymore, and there’s a reason why most new hit comedy shows have pivoted to single-cam strategies instead. Leanne takes a risk by keeping it classic, but it naturally lends itself to the Southern charm and sheer amount of bombastic chaos we more regularly saw in pre-2000 comedies. Kristen Johnson’s Carol is a fantastic example of this – her comedic aura is just too big to restrict to a single camera point of view.

If nothing else, Leanne hammers home the message we need to hear right now. Women are all-powerful and important in every possible aspect of life. If needed, they can move mountains to start from scratch while not losing sight of the joy that’s right in front of them. For me, it’s even better that the show isn’t always perfect, because who wants to be that? As someone who misses Young Sheldon et al. more than I miss George Cooper being alive, Leanne has perfectly scratched that sitcom itch.

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• The Rings of Power season 3 is officially in production
• Amazon confirmed filming has begun on the next chapter of its Lord of the Rings TV show
• It's possible that the high fantasy prequel's third entry could arrive in late 2026

It's taken a while, but Amazon MGM Studios has finally confirmed the cameras are rolling on The Rings of Power season 3.

Four months after The Rings of Power was officially renewed for a third season, Amazon revealed filming had begun on the high fantasy show's next installment via a 23-second teaser, which was uploaded to the series' social media channels yesterday (July 30).

Something is stirring on set. Season 3 is underway. pic.twitter.com/YdBSGcGd8jJuly 30, 2025

There's not much to glean from the footage. Indeed, the brief behind the scenes video simply shows an individual carrying Sauron's iconic crown, which he acquired in The Rings of Power season 2 finale, to one of the show's sets. After the crown, which originally belonged to Sauron's master Morgoth in The Lord of the Rings (TLotR) literature, onto another person, the headpiece is set down on a table. The video ends with confirmation that the Prime Video series' third season in now in production.

That revelation notwithstanding, there is something else we can read into the first teaser for The Rings of Power's third season – and, surprise surprise, it's got something to do with the aforementioned crown.

Last season, we learned that Morgoth's headgear was an incredibly powerful, magical artifact that may possess the ability to fatally injure the Maiar. Essentially, they're angelic beings who serve the Valar, aka TLotR's god-like entities, and Sauron was a Maia before he was corrupted by Morgoth, a fallen Valar previously known as Melkor.

Sauron used Morgoth's crown as a weapon in his season 2 showdown with Galadriel (Image credit: Prime Video)

Adar, one of Sauron's lieutenants who had possession of the crown, aimed to use it on Sauron due to the latter's belief that the orcs who make up his armies are nothing more than disposable creatures in his quest to rule Middle-earth. As the orcs' All-Father, Adar disagreed with Sauron's view, hence his desire to kill Sauron and set the orcs free. Long story short: Adar is killed – ironically by some orcs who've fallen under one of Sauron's dark spells – which sees Sauron come into possession of Morgoth's crown.

"But what's this got to do with what you teased three paragraphs ago?", I hear you ask. If Morgoth's crown is as potent as The Rings of Power has led us to believe, I think Sauron will use its magical abilities to help him forge The One Ring. We already know it'll be created next season – Sauron actor Charlie Vickers telling me it's the "next piece of the puzzle" for the Dark Lord's journey through this show, and would explain why Sauron was so keen to get his hands on the headpiece.

Is there a release date for The Rings of Power season 3 on Prime Video?

The look of disappointment when we learn it could be another 18 months before season 3 arrives (Image credit: Prime Video)

Alright, so we know filming is underway on one of the best Prime Video shows' third installment. I'm pretty confident that its first teaser has also given us a big clue about how the One Ring will be created. But, one big question remains: when will season 3 make its bow on Prime Video, aka one of the world's best streaming services?

The short answer is: I don't know. That won't stop me from speculating on a possible launch date, though – and it might be with us sooner than anyone might think, too.

For starters, seasons 1 and 2 respectively took 18 months and eight months to film. Principal photography took longer on the former due to a six-month hiatus amid the pandemic. So, if we remove that period of inactivity from its shooting schedule, the series' first two seasons took between eight and 12 months to film.

With principal photography commencing on season 3 yesterday (July 30), and given what its predecessors' shooting timeframes indicate, it'll be July 2026 before the cameras stop rolling on the forthcoming season. Considering how much post-production work would need to be conducted before it's ready for public consumption, we could be looking at an early 2027 launch – at the very earliest – for the series' next chapter.

There's a chance it could arrive before the end of 2026, though. Speaking to Gold Derby, director/producer Charlotte Brandstrom, whose worked on the show since early 2021, heavily implied that filming actually started in May.

"I’ve actually been shooting all day," she said, "So I’ve been up since 5am. I’m in London right now, so I’m working on it right now and I can’t say much, except that I think it’s going to be a really good season."

The fact that Brandstrom says she's already shot some scenes indicates that, at the time of publication, a few have been in the can for over two months. If that's the case, filming might be further along on The Rings of Power's latest season than we're being led to believe and may wrap earlier than anticipated.

All of that is to say, then, if Amazon surprisingly reveals filming has been completed before the end of 2025, it's possible season 3 will make its debut in late 2026. All eyes will be on the series' official social media accounts, then, for news on when principal photography wraps. Until then, read more of my exclusive coverage on the show below, including what we can expect next time around.

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• Multicloud comes with challenges, like interoperability and inconsistencies
• Geopolitical uncertainty is driving sovereignty requirements
• Survey finds nearly a third of firms are already implementing multicloud strategies, and a similar amount adopting hybrid infrastructure

British firms are increasingly turning their backs on single-cloud infrastructure, with as many as three in five UK orgs looking to open up beyond one single provider, new research has claimed.

The survey from Civo added further down that line, nearly one-third (29%) are already implementing multi-cloud strategies, with a similar number (31%) adopting hybrid cloud models to blend public cloud with their own on-prem infrastructure.

Civo believes this trend could be in response to data governance and sovereignty requirements, but increasing costs could also be playing a role in the decision.

UK orgs are going back to multicloud and hybrid

Only 35% of the survey's respondents reported full visibility into their data storage and governance at the moment, suggesting they could be running suboptimally and at high expense. Hybrid cloud promises a balance of agility and control as companies look for more sustainable long-term solutions.

Although multicloud does share some of these promises, Civo noted that the current environment is dominated by operational complexity, like fragmented support, compliance inconsistency and proprietary tools preventing interoperability.

Two in three (68%) said they'd consider locally governed providers if UK and EU compliance frameworks were stronger, with four in five (78%) agreeing that sovereignty has now become a priority when choosing tech of infrastructure partners.

"I speak to founders and IT leaders all the time who tell me the same thing: they know they need to move away from relying on a single provider, but they feel stuck," Civo CEO Mark Boost explained.

"They want control and the ability to stay resilient in the face of geopolitical uncertainty - that starts with sovereignty... But to fully realise the benefits of hybrid cloud, businesses need platforms that are open by design, interoperable, and built with transparency at their core."

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• EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said there are no plans to increase the cost of Battlefield 6 to $80
• In an investor's call, Wilson said, "We're not looking to make any changes on pricing at this stage"
• EA also confirmed that there will be no $80 games between now and the end of the current fiscal year, which is March 2026

Despite the rising cost of AAA games across the games industry, EA has said that it isn't looking to increase the price of Battlefield 6 to $80.

That's according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who responded to an investor asking the publisher about competitors now releasing $80 games during the company's Q1 earnings call on July 29 (via IGN).

"We're not looking to make any changes on pricing at this stage," Wilson said. "That's in the construct of, we already offer a fairly broad pricing scheme across our various products.

"When you think about everything from free-to-play through to our premium products and deluxe editions, our orientation is always to capture the full spectrum of pricing so that we can serve players in the best way possible and offer them the greatest value. We'll continue to look at opportunities to deliver great value to our players through various pricing schemes over the course of time, but no dramatic changes planned yet."

During the call, EA also confirmed that it had not factored in any price changes to its current fiscal year earnings guidance, suggesting that there will be no $80 games between now and the end of the current fiscal year, which is March 2026.

Nintendo set a new precedent earlier this year when it revealed that its Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, Mario Kart World, would cost $80.

Microsoft followed suit earlier this year by confirming that some first-party games would see a price increase to $79.99 later this year. However, the company recently announced that it had decided to lower the cost of both The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4.

Elsewhere, fans can look forward to the Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal later today.

The livestream should also confirm a release date; however, an earlier report from reliable leaker Billbil-kun at Dealabs claims that the shooter will release on October 10, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

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• Future Games Show will be back at Gamescom this year
• This year's hosts are actors Maggie Robertson and David Hayter
• Tune in live on August 20 for more than 50 trailers and announcements

Future Games Show at Gamescom is returning this year for another showcase packed with game trailers and world premieres.

This year, the show will be hosted by actors Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu, Resident Evil Village) and David Hayter (Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid). You'll be able to tune into the show live on August 20 at 1am PDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST.

Future Games Show will go live at the above times on a variety of social channels, including Twitch, YouTube, X / Twitter, TikTok, as well as with our friends over at GamesRadar.

Viewers can expect announcements and trailers for more than 50 upcoming games, many of which will be world premieres. Developers and publishers featured will include Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, EA, and Nacon. And if there are any games you're looking forward to in particular this year, you just might be in luck, as the show is set to feature some "stealth demo drops."

On returning to the Future Games Show fold, Robertson said: “I’m thrilled to be joining David Hayter to co-host the Future Games Show at Gamescom on August 20! It’s always such a joy to celebrate the creativity and passion behind the games we love and this showcase is packed with exclusive reveals, dev interviews, and all the latest news on gaming. Can’t wait to see you there!”

Hayter added: “Yes! I'll be returning to the Future Games Show at Gamescom on August 20 with Maggie Robertson. I've had a sneak peek and the show is packed with world premieres, new trailers and deep dives into some incredible games. Join us on August 20!”

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Sometimes in software development, things can sit on your to-do list for years – and it’s a technology-based disruption that pushes them to the top of your priorities.

Remember the move to mobile 15 years ago? All of a sudden, people were rushing to address things they should have already thought about in the web app age.

Customer experience, robust testing, programs that are truly fit for purpose and not just functional – the emergence of mobile highlighted many gaps that organizations had to fill. In 2025, AI and low code are the innovations having a profound impact on software development.

And one, perhaps under-acknowledged, consequence is a shift in how organizations approach risk management and regulatory compliance.

The decentralization of development

How enterprises develop and deliver technology – for both internal and external use – is changing. Where once technology development was a process led centrally by IT, today no-code platforms and AI tools are driving a shift to development teams fractalized across the organization.

This is incredibly exciting in many ways, as developers can be more responsive to business needs, collaborating directly with the people most aware of what customers, employees and partners require. But at the same time, it changes the business’ relationship with risk. In the old world, the IT professionals driving development had a holistic perspective of the security concerns, risk profiles and compliance requirements of the organization as a whole.

But now, distributed developers work on smaller pieces of the puzzle, which each present a range of risk management and governance questions. Enterprises are now being faced with managing the risk, as well as embracing the opportunity, of this democratization.

The age of adaptive governance

Risk is a complex question in the time of distributed development. Governance and risk mean different things, depending on where the technology sits in the business. Issues like whether applications are customer-facing, the sensitivity of data and how it’s stored and privacy considerations will each vary from case to case.

Delivering a mobile banking feature could raise all kinds of questions. How and where is customer data stored? Who has access? What will be in the hands of the customers, and what will be in the hands of employees? With so many interconnected issues, it could be easy to miss something crucial from a privacy, security or regulatory perspective.

It’s more important than ever that individual developer teams get to grips with the risk and compliance implications of their activities.

This creates a new role for risk managers and compliance officers. Rather than simply sitting centrally, these specialists need to be embedded in multidisciplinary technology delivery teams across the organization, sometimes referred to as “fusion teams”. There, they act as a front line for risk management, empowering development teams with the right guidance and oversight of their activities.

The smartest organizations are moving to a model of adaptive governance: risk management that’s appropriate for each scenario, and balances innovation with compliance. It’s here that fusion teams will really deliver. With a blend of experts from the business, software developers and UX specialists, teams can better understand the risk and compliance implications of their work – and proactively protect the organization.

The invisible shift

The shift to decentralized technology is nothing new. But low code and AI are catalyzing the parallel shift to a new risk management and compliance model. It may be less visible – but the consequences will be significant.

It’s important that everyone gets to grips with the age of adaptive governance, to ensure that distributed development can deliver on its promise, without compromising the business.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

AI is going through its adolescent phase. It’s strong, ambitious, and capable of remarkable things, but increasingly, it’s hitting some growing pains. Some analysts suggest AI has stalled due to "data scarcity," poor connectivity, or power limitations.

However, the real reason might be simpler: AI, as we know it, lacks the fundamental ability to truly understand us, the user. It can process information at remarkable speeds, create photorealistic images, and draft fluent text, but it struggles with emotional intelligence.

It doesn’t know when a user is frustrated, bored, anxious, or exhausted. It can't sense the moment to pause, clarify, or change course. As AI tools are increasingly deployed in emotionally sensitive domains like education, healthcare, wellness, and media, this emotional blindspot is becoming a significant limitation.

Maybe the next leap in AI won’t come from more data or faster processing, but from teaching AI to notice what humans do when something isn't landing. Emotionally adaptive AI will do more than read prompts; it'll read the room.

By combining facial cues, gaze tracking, behavioral patterns, and physiological signals, the next generation of AI will be able to infer how someone feels and adjust its output accordingly. The result will be an AI that understands when to push and when to back off – when someone is ready to learn, when they’re mentally overloaded, or when they’re just not connecting.

This shift, from reactive logic to emotional awareness, could be what finally takes AI out of adolescence and into maturity.

Faster AI Doesn't Mean Better AI

We’re used to measuring AI in superlatives: bigger models, faster inference, smarter responses. But in the rush to scale up, we’ve overlooked something more fundamental: human context. A model ten times larger won't necessarily give better answers if it can't tell when it has misunderstood the question, or when a user is losing patience and needs an empathetic ear.

Logic-based accuracy doesn’t necessarily equate to usefulness in the moment. When AI is deployed in settings where emotional nuance matters – like classrooms, clinics, and during deep conversations – raw intelligence isn't enough. An algorithm might make fast movie recommendations based on viewing history, but it doesn't know what you're in the mood to watch right now.

These environments don't just rely on information delivery; they rely on timing, tone, and emotional context. In a classroom, the difference between a student thriving and disengaging isn't about how many facts the system can present; it's about knowing when the student is overwhelmed.

In a mental health setting, offering the right coping strategy is fine, but what if the user is too burnt out to hear it? Traditional AI systems weren’t built for this. They optimize for completion, not connection, and that’s where their limitations become apparent.

Humanizing AI

AI's next milestone upgrade won't be faster models or smarter algorithms. It'll be emotional adaptivity and contextual awareness. This means two things for the future of AI. First, AI will be able to read your personal cues in real time, when you choose to allow it.

Much like how Apple Watch users see significant value in heart rate, sleep pattern, or activity levels analysis to provide personalized health insights, human context AI picks up on the silent signals we send all the time: the blink rate that suggests cognitive fatigue, the micro-expression that flashes when confusion sets in, or the subtle eye movement that hints at distraction.

With the right fusion of sensors and models, AI can now combine emotion and mood with biometric signals into a holistic understanding of how you're feeling and why.

Understanding human emotional patterns

Second, and perhaps even more broadly, this understanding of human emotional and behavioral patterns can be anonymously "crowdsourced." This vast dataset will level up large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, making them inherently more human-centric in their responses and decisions.

This means AI can deal more effectively with a wider range of situations, even in environments where real-time personal signals aren't being interpreted. It's about building a foundational emotional intelligence into AI, making all interactions more intuitive and responsive to general human needs and states.

In the same way a great teacher slows down when they detect confusion or injects some fun when they see the room glazing over, emotionally adaptive AI can recalibrate on the fly – repeating a step, simplifying a concept, or just pausing to give the user space. It’s a shift from AI that reacts to what we say to AI that responds to how we feel. This opens the door to use cases that conventional AI simply isn’t equipped for.

In healthcare and wellness, it can surface emotional and physiological patterns that can flag burnout, mood disorders, or stroke risk, without relying on bias-prone self-reporting. In gaming, it can power experiences that respond to how players feel, not just what they do, adjusting game difficulty or narrative flow in real-time. What unites these use cases – and countless others – is a shift from one-size-fits-all delivery to emotionally responsive systems that are in tune with humans.

The real breakthrough won't be in how much AI knows; it'll be in how well AI knows us.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Music streaming giant Spotify recently suffered a global outage that disrupted access to its app, website, and services for users around the world.

Although downloaded songs remained playable, the interruption caused significant frustration and interfered with daily routines. The incident also raised concerns about Spotify’s infrastructure reliability, as similar outages have occurred before.

With ongoing competition from Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal, this lack of consistent service may push some users to consider alternative streaming platforms.

However, there are several ways to maintain product stability and to prevent app outages, including proactive strategies such as comprehensive testing, resilient architecture, continuous monitoring, and disaster recovery planning.

1. Frequent audits

Undertaking frequent and consistent audits can pre-empt issues and avoid customer frustration. These audits should not be exempt from the likes of code reviews, security audits and UX/design reviews.

How regular these should be is dependent on the size of your userbase and technology.

2. Proactive testing and quality assurance

When it comes to mobile app development, it’s important first to use automated testing and continuous integration to detect bugs early in the development cycle. In addition, it’s important to perform regular code reviews to catch issues and improve code quality before deployment.

Regression testing also helps when it comes to verifying that new updates do not disrupt existing functionality and introduce new errors.

3. Updating legacy technologies

Legacy technology refers to outdated software, hardware, and business processes that are still in use. These systems are less efficient, harder to maintain and often lack up-to-date security features, leaving them exposed to potential threats. Although they may continue to fulfil their initial purposes, they limit scalability and hinder integration with modern systems.

With this in mind, it’s important to have a sufficient plan for growth in place and update legacy technologies. The benefits of doing this range from reduced operational costs, improved security, and enhanced customer experience, and importantly greater reliability.

4. Invest in comprehensive monitoring

Depending on the size of the business and customer base, 24-hour monitoring is common for most applications with minimal response times needed for business-critical products.

Having a technical team on hand to immediately jump on any issues, no matter how small, ensures there is no escalation or impact on products and end users.

5. Implement infrastructure management and monitoring

Ensuring your application infrastructure is optimized to handle expected loads and potential spikes is also key to avoiding potential outages.

This includes monitoring network connectivity and performance to identify and address potential issues, as well as server performance and health.

6. Offer ease of communication to the user

Offering in-app communication will allow users to receive clear and timely messages regarding outages and their potential impact. It is also important to maintain an up-to-date status page that transparently reflects the current state of the application and any ongoing issues.

Leveraging social media platforms to share real-time updates and engage with users during service disruptions would also be beneficial.

7. Social listening

This is another effective way to monitor any trends with user issues, and can be easily overlooked. Social listening encompasses everything from monitoring social media outlets to app store reviews.

When it comes to App Store community management, having a clear pre-planned strategy to deal with major issues or outages is key to managing user sentiment and maintaining all-important App Store Ratings.

8. Learning and improving processes

Finally, in the event that an outage does occur, it's important to conduct a post-incident review, where incidents can be analyzed to determine root causes and corrective actions can be implemented to prevent future recurrence.

Organizations may also benefit from creating and maintaining a solid contingency plan as a result, with the focus being on communication strategies and fallback solutions to minimize impact.

Frustration for customers and business

Disruptions to mobile app services — whether due to technical glitches, third-party vendor failures, high traffic volumes, or the complexities of legacy IT infrastructure — can cause significant frustration for both customers and businesses. The impact is even greater when paying subscribers experience interruptions to services they rely on.

To minimize these risks, developers and brands invest in robust testing protocols, regularly update and maintain IT systems, plan for scalability, and implement advanced monitoring tools to catch issues before they escalate.

From the customer's perspective, it makes no difference whether a problem originates with your organization or a third-party provider — the responsibility, and any damage to brand trust, falls on you. For businesses like Spotify, this underscores the importance of carefully selecting third-party vendors and conducting regular audits to ensure they meet strict reliability and security standards.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

World Productivity Day should be a moment of reflection and renewed ambition for every business leader in the UK. But this year, the reality is sobering: half of UK businesses are still relying on manual, outdated processes.

A recent 2025 UK Digital Maturity Survey revealed a widening gap between digital ambition and execution. While leaders talk about transformation, their teams are often held back by complexity.

With countless options for new or upgraded systems, admittedly, it can feel confusing and overwhelming. Too many companies are layering on new tools without fixing the underlying infrastructure.

Nowhere is this more obvious that cybersecurity.

Cyber insecurity

Shockingly, over half (56%) of businesses admit that awareness of cyber threats is low, and less than half provide regular training to their employees. In an era of escalating and well documented attacks, this isn’t just risky, it’s irresponsible.

In recent months, several high-profile cyberattacks have paralyzed UK businesses, disrupted public services, and exposed critical data vulnerabilities.

From ransomware targeting hospital systems to breaches in supply chains, the threat is no longer hypothetical - it’s here, and it’s escalating. Attackers aren’t just going after data; they’re going after operational continuity. That means productivity itself is now at risk.

Despite our collective awareness that digital transformation drives growth, too many organizations remain stuck with legacy systems, weak integration, and critically, poor cybersecurity. Secure IT infrastructure isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a baseline requirement for productivity and growth.

Resilience in today’s economy means being ready for disruption, and digital resilience starts with cyber readiness. Businesses can no longer afford to treat this as an afterthought. Cybersecurity needs to be embedded into strategy, work culture, and day-to-day operations. Anything less can welcome risks.

The power of data

Then there’s data.

The latest research shows that under a third (only 29%) of organizations say they’re using data to drive strategic decisions. Without the ability to harness insights in real time, decision-making becomes slower, less confident, and ultimately, less effective.

For companies trying to adapt to hybrid work, respond to customer expectations, or navigate economic uncertainty, that’s a major handicap.

In an environment where speed and agility often determine success, relying solely on gut feeling or reports is no longer sufficient. The ability to make real-time, data-informed decisions isn’t a luxury. It’s essential for staying ahead.

Yet, many organizations are sitting on a copious amount of unused data, either because it’s siloed, poorly integrated, or not trusted by decision-makers. Turning that data into a usable asset requires the right tools, yes, but also the right mindset and leadership commitment.

Data maturity can’t be separated from productivity. The more confidently and effectively an organization can use its data, the faster it can act, the smarter it can operate, and the more value it can deliver.

So where do we go from here?

A shift in organizational mindset

For me, in today’s economy, productivity is no longer just a function of efficiency; it’s a function of trust. Employees need to trust the tools they use, the systems that support them, and the data that guides their decisions.

The apparent lack of awareness around data-driven decision-making and security threats points to strategic vulnerabilities. Without secure, integrated digital infrastructure, organizations will struggle to adapt, scale, or compete.

The most forward-looking leaders recognize that digital maturity is now a boardroom issue, not just a technology one. It requires an organizational mindset shift to embed security, insights and agility into the way business gets done.

Inaction is no longer a neutral position; it’s a risk to growth, resilience and reputation. And this isn’t only about catching up. It’s about preparing for what’s next.

With AI becoming more integrated into business models, the risks and opportunities tied to digital maturity will only accelerate. Leaders must start future-proofing now. Closing the gap between ambition and execution starts with leadership willing to make digital capability a strategic imperative.

That means taking a clear-eyed view of the current state, identifying where the obstacles are, and investing in the processes and work culture that support transformation - not just the technology itself.

Call to action

World Productivity Day is a call to action for UK businesses to commit to digital maturity and redress the imbalance between ambition and execution.

Technology offers extraordinary potential, but the true differentiator is how seamlessly it’s woven into the fabric of everyday work. The gap between vision and reality isn’t just a matter of tools, it’s about aligning people, process and ultimately workplace experience.

This starts with listening to employees, to consumers, to data. It continues with investing in change management, training, and upskilling. And it culminates in creating a workplace that feels not just more productive, but more purposeful.

Let World Productivity Day be more than a moment. Make it a turning point. A turning point where productivity is refined, not just in output, but in how confidently, securely, and intelligently we work.

Because in today’s world, adopting technology isn’t just a strategy. It’s how we evolve.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• South Park is taking a short break after its season 27 premiere
• It has been confirmed that episode 2 will air on August 6
• The news comes after the long-running comedy reached a streaming rights deal with Paramount+

South Park continues to make headlines after its ongoing licensing negotiations, as it has now confirmed the second episode will air on August 6, 2025.

However, The Hollywood Reporter has noted that "South Park has been known to skip weeks as a new season rolls out week over week," so it's likely the comedy show is just re-doing a tried and tested formula.

The news was confirmed via a YouTube video titled "South Park continues August 6", which does exactly what it says on the tin really.

Check out that video below.

What should we expect from South Park season 27?

(Image credit: Comedy Central)

South Park has returned to Paramount+ after ongoing discussions, where I'm pleased to report the original series is available to stream again.

Previously, South Park viewers were left frustrated when the series was removed from Paramount+, but now we can rest easy as it's back on one of the best streaming services.

Based on the above video, it seems the series will continue from the first episode. There, we saw the fictional town agreeing to pay millions to Trump in a settlement.

We can expect more biting satire from South Park when it continues, as the promo video sees Cartman engaged in a debate about abortion with another student at South Park Elementary.

The promo also shows Mr. Garrison riding in an ICE vehicle with masked ICE officers, so as ever, the series isn't holding back when it comes to its topical critiques.

Season 27, episode 2 will be available on Paramount+ from August 6 for viewers in the US, UK, and Australia.

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