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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, August 20 (game #1304).

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 #1305) - 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 #1305) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1305) - 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 #1305) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• Q

• S

• W

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1305) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1305, are…

• QUEST
• SPARK
• WHITE
• ACUTE

In every case today it was a three-letter combination that helped me find the correct word – U-T-E led to ACUTE, I-T-E to WHITE, E-S-T to QUEST and S-P-A to SPARK.

On a day where Q made a rare appearance, I’m pleased to have got through without an error. However, I was brought crashing down to earth by the far trickier Daily Sequence, where it took me five attempts to get FOUND.

Daily Sequence today (game #1305) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1305, are…

• FOUND
• CRAVE
• ALLAY
• WRECK

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• 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

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, August 20 (game #801).

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 #802) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DIPSY
• DREAM
• CHEESE
• SATELLITE DISH
• LA-LA
• GOOGLE
• TELETUBBY
• NO-NO
• YANKEE
• BOO-BOO
• RADIO TOWER
• NEVER NEVER
• FLUB
• INSECT
• FANTASY
• GAFFE

NYT Connections today (game #802) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: A clumsy mishap 
• GREEN: Make believe kingdoms
• BLUE: Linked by a receiving system
• PURPLE: Add a word that’s a bit like a scribble

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 #802) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: BLUNDER 
• GREEN: LANDS OF THE IMAGINATION
• BLUE: THINGS WITH ANTENNA/E 
• PURPLE: ____ DOODLE

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

NYT Connections today (game #802) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #802, are…

• YELLOW: BLUNDER BOO-BOO, FLUB, GAFFE, NO-NO
• GREEN: LANDS OF THE IMAGINATION DREAM, FANTASY, LA-LA, NEVER NEVER
• BLUE: THINGS WITH ANTENNA/E INSECT, RADIO TOWER, SATELLITE DISH, TELETUBBY
• PURPLE: ____ DOODLE CHEESE, DIPSY, GOOGLE, YANKEE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Connections teased us with two Teletubbies, and had I not known that the missing characters were Tinky-Winky and Po I may have been tempted to cobble a quartet together with BOO-BOO and FLUB, both of which sound as if they could be rotund primary-colored aliens.

Instead, I remembered that a prime feature of the TELETUBBY species was the curly antenna on top of their bulbous heads, something they have in common with INSECT, RADIO TOWER and SATELLITE DISH.

I’m glad I had this useless knowledge as I would never have put together _____ DOODLE, having never heard the phrase DIPSY doodle or having any inkling as to what a CHEESE doodle could be; this particular variety of cheese puff is not available in the UK, where the Wotsit rules supreme.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, August 20, game #801)

• YELLOW: BLACK-AND-WHITE THINGS DOMINO, PIANO KEYS, YIN-YANG SYMBOL, ZEBRA
• GREEN: PAIRS OF RODS CHOPSTICKS, CLAVES, KNITTING NEEDLES, SKI POLES
• BLUE: THINGS THAT ROTATE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS BARBER POLE, CAROUSEL, CEILING FAN, LAZY SUSAN
• PURPLE: RODS THAT CURVE AT ONE END CANDY CANE, CROCHET HOOK, CROOK, CROWBAR

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, August 20 (game #535).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Marvel-ous and then some

NYT Strands today (game #536) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• POWER
• STORE
• RIVER
• THINK
• ROAD
• HIRE

NYT Strands today (game #536) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #536) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #536) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #536, are…

• HULK
• WOLVERINE
• STORM
• DAREDEVIL
• THING
• ROGUE
• SPANGRAM: SUPERHEROES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I spotted the spangram SUPERHEROES first, before I went looking for characters from the Marvel universe – a nice touch to have the letters form an S shape.

I have trouble remembering who is part of the DC family and who is Marvel (apologies) and the one I was certain of – Spider-Man – was not part of the search (quite possibly because of that pesky hyphen).

I needn’t have worried, as you didn’t need to have any comic book knowledge to complete today’s search; none of the words were particular tricky to unravel and required little expertise.

That said, I did get the two most famous first, in HULK and WOLVERINE, before progressing to the lower tier of superherodom.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, August 20, game #535)

• EURO
• PESO
• RAND
• POUND
• RUPEE
• DOLLAR
• SPANGRAM: GLOBAL CURRENCY

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.

Alien: Earth has burst on to streaming with critics praising the show and audiences racing to stream the opening episodes.

Disney have revealed that the debut pair of episodes raked in 9.2 million global viewers across FX and Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally, making it the most-watched show last week across two of the best streaming services.

It’s worth taking the above figure with a slight pinch of salt, however, with Disney using hours watched divided by titles' runtime as the means to measure viewers, not simply eyes on the screen. Even so, it’s an impressive number and up there with Marvel and Star Wars content on Disney+.

But strong viewership is only a part of the Xenemorph spin-off’s success, with the show also earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics, making it one of the best Hulu shows around right now. If you’re yet to catch up, you can get a taste of what all the fuss is about from the trailer below.

Alien: Earth comes from showrunner Noah Hawley, who has previously worked with FX to bring Fargo and X-Men (Legion) to the small screen and marks the franchise’s first foray into TV after a storied history.

Debuting with Ridley Scott’s space slasher Alien in 1979, the film was followed up by James Cameron’s more action oriented Aliens in 1986. While the initial two installments would be at home on any GOAT list, David Fincher’s studio-meddled Alien 3 and the bizarre Alien: Resurrection from Jean-Pierre Jeunet were less successful. After two crossovers with the Predator franchise failed to reignite interest, Scott returned to the series with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant in the 2010s, delivering two esoteric sci-fis about the nature of humanity and creation that felt at odds with what had come before. Alien: Romulus hit theatres last year, serving as a sequel to the original film, somewhat righting the ship with the sort of blood-soaked horror you’d expect from director Fede Alvarez.

Hawley’s latest installment follows Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a humanoid robot now the host of the consciousness of a terminally ill child. When Weyland-Yutani’s deep space research vessel crash lands in territory controlled by Prodigy, Wendy’s ‘owners,’ she and her rag-tag group of fellow hybrids set out on a mission to investigate, unaware of the deadly cargo on board.

(Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu/Disney+)

In its opening episodes Alien: Earth feels like a show inspired by everything that’s come before, with the tension of Alien, the corporate espionage and military presence of Aliens, the philosophizing of Prometheus and the Xenemorph-induced bloodshed of Romulus. There’s even a little bit of Scott’s Blade Runner thrown in for good measure.

And it’s a formula that works based on the show’s excellent Rotten Tomatoes score, with Financial Times calling it “The best Alien installment since 1986 (Cameron’s Aliens"), while The Guardian praised the show’s “bristling, bewildering, overpoweringly confident aura.” Empire, meanwhile, called Alien: Earth “a rare prequel that manages to enrich its source material.”

The first three installments of Alien: Earth can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+ right now, with the rest of the series mostly coming out each week… mostly.

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Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

• Inotiv pharmacy firm reports suffering a ransomware attack
• It is currently restoring some of its services
• Ransomware operators Qilin claimed responsibility

Inotiv, an American pharmaceutical and biotech company, has confirmed it has suffered a ransomware attack which forced it to shut down parts of its IT infrastructure.

In a report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said it spotted the attack on August 8, 2025.

The initial investigation determined that someone broke in and encrypted “certain parts” of its systems. Inotiv then did the usual, locking the network down, notifying the police, and bringing in third-party security experts for forensic analysis and security improvements.

Qilin takes the blame

However, the attack seems to have caused noticeable damage:

“The cybersecurity incident has caused, and is expected to continue to cause, disruptions to certain business operations of the company,” Inovit said in the filing. “The incident has temporarily impacted the availability of and access to certain of the company’s networks and systems, including access to portions of internal data storage and certain internal business applications.”

As it works on restoring the services and bringing its systems back online, Inotiv said it transitioned impacted operations to “offline alternatives” to minimize the impact. There is no deadline for this and Inotiv doesn’t seem to know when it might get back to business as usual.

Inotiv is still investigating the case and did not discuss the identity of the attackers. However, BleepingComputer found a ransomware group called Qilin claimed responsibility, listing Inotiv on its data leak site, saying they stole around 162,000 files which are 176GB in size.

Samples of the stolen files were also posted on the site, but at press time, their authenticity has not yet been confirmed.

Inotiv is a US-based contract research organization (CRO) that provides nonclinical and analytical drug discovery and development services for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. It has around 2,000 specialists and an annual revenue of around $500 million.

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Games will also have a new "Windows Performance Fit" metric: Will your favorites be fit or fat?

• Microsoft is experimenting with a new recommendation in the Start menu
• It's effectively an ad for Copilot (and Microsoft 365 Copilot)
• Recommendations include prompts to write a draft, create an image, or just fire up a query

Windows 11 could be getting another thinly veiled ad in the Start menu, and this time it's for Copilot.

Windows Latest reports that PhantomOfEarth highlighted the move on X, but note that Microsoft is just experimenting with this idea currently in test builds of Windows 11, so you won't see this yet.

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft's quest to add Copilot buttons to everything in Windows 11 has reached the Start menu.MS is experimenting with a new Start menu recommendation for Copilot/M365 Copilot that suggests a few different prompts you can use with it, here are 4: pic.twitter.com/tzHHr0XLoLAugust 16, 2025

The nudge to use Copilot appears in the 'recommended' section of the Start menu, which is where Microsoft points out apps and services it thinks you might find useful (read: tries to sell you), as well as recently used apps or files.

As you'll see if you look over the four screenshots provided on X, there are recommendations to use either plain Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot. The latter is the business-targeted subscription version, and I presume the former is what will be presented to the average consumer.

These consist of prompts to either just fire up Copilot to answer a query or to use the AI to write a first draft.

However, Windows Latest did some digging and found references to other spins on these recommendations in Windows 11. That includes getting Copilot to create an image, or a suggestion to 'Teach me a few ways that Copilot can help me with my productivity,' which opens Microsoft 365 Copilot.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Analysis: starting to get annoyed?

Unsurprising things that have happened this week, number 28: Microsoft is mulling the idea of pushing AI functionality a bit more in Windows 11. Of course, we should bear in mind that this is just experimentation at the moment - the leaker on X doesn't make it clear if this is hidden in Windows 11 preview builds, but I assume this is the case (the finds made by Windows Latest certainly are).

I'd bet at least some cash that this is something that does make the cut for inclusion in Windows 11 eventually. Although we don't really need any more prompting to use Copilot, there's already a big button for the AI on the taskbar, after all.

Now, to be fair to Microsoft, the good news is that if you aren't fond of recommendations within the Start menu like this, the company recently introduced the ability to turn them off in Windows 11 (after that option was spotted in testing a while back).

To do this, you need to go into Settings, and head to Personalization > Start, where you'll see a slider for the following: 'Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists'. Just switch this off, but note that you'll lose the other mentioned bits and pieces, including recent files being flagged up in File Explorer (which is the app that displays the folders on your desktop).

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• 71% of US citizens believe AI could cause permanent job loss
• Only one in three think AI is helpful in education
• Unemployment rates are broadly unchanged

A new Reuters/Ipsos study has found nearly half (47%) of Americans believe AI is bad for humanity, and in terms of more than just jobs.

The study added how almost three in four (71%) Americans are concerned AI will cause permanent job loss, with many divided about AI's role in education (only 36% think it will help).

Besides jobs, US citizens are worried about AI's broader implications within the society, including political chaos, military uses and even a risk to humanity.

American citizens aren't so sure about the future of AI

Even more citizens are worried about AI disrupting political systems (77%) via deepfakes and other misinformation campaigns, with around half (48%) opposing to military use of AI to decide strike targets.

Although workers and consumers broadly acknowledge AI's productivity benefits, they're mostly concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence, with harmful applications like fake medical information, racist content and AI bots all cited in the study.

Users are also becoming increasingly conscious of AI's sustainability impacts, with three in five (61%) worried about high electricity demand from AI data centers.

Despite noting a 12% decrease in data center emissions in its latest Sustainability Report, Google warned of a 27% surge in energy demand as a result of intensive compute demands – and other companies in this space are all facing similar challenges.

Concerns span all areas of AI, but with workers still sharing early concerns that AI could replace jobs, industries are yet to prove this theory.

Tech sector layoffs have cost hundreds of thousands of jobs since the launch of ChatGPT and subsequent AI tools, however with US unemployment rates remaining fairly steady (4.2% in July 2025), what we're seeing more than widespread job losses is a shift in jobs – as some become redundant, new roles open up.

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Foundation season 3 is entering the home straight. Its seventh episode – 'Foundation's End' – is set to be released very soon, so there aren't many entries left before the sci-fi epic departs our screens once more.

Before it does, though, 'Foundation's End' and this season's final three installments should deliver thrills and melodrama aplenty. Read on to find out when season 3 episode 7 will launch on Apple TV+, then, and when its follow-up installments will make their streaming debuts.

What is the release date for Foundation season 3 episode 7?

Brother Day's trip through Mycogen continues in this season's seventh episode (Image credit: Apple TV+)

'Foundation's End' will land on Apple's streaming platform on Friday, August 22.

Just like its six predecessors, the seventh chapter of Foundation's third season could arrive a day earlier (Thursday, August 21) in North and South America. That's due to the time zones that these continents operate in.

Okay, so when will Foundation season 3 episode 7 be released where you live? Check out the below list to see when it should do so. Why 'should'? Because Apple doesn't publicly disclose the launch times for any of its TV Originals' episodes, so these are our best predictions – based on when other Apple TV+ shows' episodes have aired – for this week's entry:

• US – Thursday, August 21 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 21 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• UK – Friday, August 22 at 5am BST
• India – Friday, August 22 at 9:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 22 at 12pm SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 22 at 2pm AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, August 22 at 4pm NZST

Foundation season 3 full episode release schedule

Alright, Toran, we'll tell you when new episodes will be released on Apple TV+! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Curious to know when the final three installments of one of the best Apple TV+ shows will air on one of the world's best streaming services? Read on:

• Foundation season 3 episode 1 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 2 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 3 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 4 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 5 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 6 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 7 – Friday, August 22
• Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
• Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
• Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12

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(Image credit: Future / Google )

The next Made by Google event, where the search giant shows off its latest hardware, will take place today (August 20) at 10pm PT / 1pm ET and 6pm UK time, and 3am on August 21 in Australia.

At the showcase, we expect announcements of the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4 and the Pixel Buds 2a, going by the rumors and tidbits of information we've seen. And that should mean a bumper product refresh for Google, and very likely a whole lot of artificial intelligence features added into the mix, as the search giant builds out its consumer-grade AI tools.

So let's get into it: below I'll go over all the rumors and last-minute news so far, along with what we expect, and once the showcase kicks off, TechRadar will be live reporting on the event.

What you need to know

• Expect to see the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold
• We reckon we'll see the reveal of the Google Pixel Watch 4, complete with new AI features
• And expect the Google Pixel Buds 2a, with improved audio and more AI
• Jimmy Fallon will host the Mady By Google event
• 5 ways the Google Pixel 10 Pro can get ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra
• If Google wants the Pixel 10 to beat the iPhone 17, I think it should bring back its best-ever feature
• The Google Pixel 10 could have the iPhone 17 beat even before Apple’s phone arrives – here’s how
• The Google Pixel 9 Pro was our Phone of the Year in 2024, but I can't see the Pixel 10 Pro repeating the feat in 2025 – here’s why
• Here's how the Google Pixel 10 Pro's new look might test my loyalty to Apple

How to watch the Made by Google event

Simply check out the embedded YouTube video below. If you can't watch the event live, do check back with TechRadar, as we'll bring you all our first impressions and reactions from the Made by Google showcase.

Good morning. Managing Editor of Mobile Computing Roland Moore-Colyer here to take you through the run up to the Made by Google event.

(Image credit: Google / Android Authority)

If all the rumors I've seen so far prove to be true, then we could be looking at a big showcase for Google later on today, with new phones, a new Pixel Watch and new earbuds.

And I'll buy a hat and eat it if Google doesn't spend a good amount of time discussing what it's been doing on the AI side for its Pixel devices.

Expect to see four new Pixel phones today: the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. This will be a refresh of the whole main Google Pixel phone lineup.

Don't expect any drastic design changes, at least going by the rumors, but I do expect to see new Tensor chips, perhaps some improvements on the camera side such as new sensors, and a big injection of AI software upgrades.

(Image credit: Google)

Going by a rather last-minute rumor, it looks like magnetic accessories will be a big part of the Pixel 10 lineup, with an Apple MagSafe-style system facilitating a magnetic charging stand for the phones.

I currently use a Pixel Stand from 2021 to charge my phones that support wireless charging, so an upgrade here would be much appreciated, especially if it enables a wider range of accessories ot be used with the new Pixel phones.

One thing that's will be new, is the Made by Google event will be hosted by TV's Jimmy Fallon, which is unusual for Google as it tends to use its own executives and marketing folks to spearhead the showcases.

Check out the teaser video below...

I'm not sure what secret Jimmy could be referring to... maybe it'll be some new AI tool or assistant, or maybe something to do with mixed reality. So far there have been scant rumors on any big surprises from the Google event.

A big last-minute leak!

(Image credit: Google)

We've just got another last-minute Pixel 10 leak, with it pointing towards an eSIM only approach by Google for its new phones, and new AI features tipped.

And a promo clip has been shared too.

Bonjour, Pixel 10 pic.twitter.com/KYvJPYpbN8August 19, 2025

But there's more too, with serial tipster Evan Blass seemingly leaking the pricing for all the Pixel devices we expect to see.

Pricing. The Buds 2a slot in at $129. Enjoy the launch tomorrow, especially those planning to buy. pic.twitter.com/ZSKwq52LDMAugust 20, 2025

The standard Pixel 10 seems to be missing from that price leak, but we expect it to come in around the same price as the Google Pixel 9.

And overall, those prices look reasonable for a flagship range of phones.

Some people might baulk at the idea of paying iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Plus prices for phones with Tensor chips in them. But I feel AI performance, rather than raw silicon horsepower, will be the key to these Pixel phones.

(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

In fact, I've already touted how I think the Pixel 10 needs to bring more AI stuff to the table to keep at the top of the AI phones pile.

To quote myself: "with the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 landing with improved AI features, and Apple Intelligence starting to get up to speed and offer a solid suite of features on compatible iPhones, as well as some synchronicity with Macs, Google’s AI phone crown could be up for grabs.

"So I feel that for Google to keep ahead and continue to blaze a trail for practical, and hopefully safe, consumer use, it'll need to bring more to the table with the Pixel 10."

Don't expect major hardware changes

As I've mentioned before, a lot of the rumors and claimed leaks so far have all pointed at the Pixel 10 lineup being a minor evolution on its predecessors, rather than bringing in any dramatic upgrades.

For me, that's kinda fine, as the Pixel 9 phones are so good, I don't think I'd appreciate Google messing with a winning formula quite yet.

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

One rumor did hint at the standard Google Pixel 10 going for a triple rear-camera system, adding a telephoto snapper into the mix. I've already written how I'd be a fan of that and how it could tackle the looming phone threat of the iPhone 17.

But I'm not really all that convince Google will do that, especially given the price leaks, which would suggest Google will still keep the telephoto camera for the Pro Pixels.

(Image credit: Future)

The same can be said for the Google Pixel Watch 4 which looks a lot like its predecessors.

Not a bad thing in my opinion as I've always like the design of Google's smartwatch, But I do hope its got snappier performance and a host of AI features to make it feel like an 'AI smartwatch'.

I expect boosts in the sensor and performance capabilities on the Pixel Watch 4 could make it a lot more appealing than its rumored design might tip.

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

On the Pixel Buds 2a side, the rumors so far point towards an evolved design, more power, new features like head tracking, and better sound isolation.

In terms of hardware upgrades, they could offer the biggest leaps out of all the products Google is set to reveal today.

However, the Pixel Buds 2a could bring with them a price hike: where the Pixel Buds A came in at €99, the Buds 2a will supposedly be €149. That's a hefty price increase and if it's reflected in other markets would mean $149 / £149 / AU$195.

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

So you might ask, what Pixel device am I most looking forwards to?

Even if you didn't I'm still going to ponder that question. I tend to like the Pixel Pro phones, with the Pixel 9 Pro offering a neat blend of specs and AI smart all in a decently compact package. So the Pixel 10 Pro is sure to appeal to me.

But I'm also curious to see what Google does with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which will be the search giant's third stab at a foldable phone. I hope AI is employed to make that extra screen space a lot more usable and helps make the folding phone a productivity powerhouse.

Now over to my Phones Editor Axel Metz, who I've tapped up for what he's looking forward to from Google today:

"It feels wrong to say that an accessory announcement is my most anticipated reveal at today's Made by Google showcase, but the Pixel 10 series potentially getting its own MagSafe-style technology is a bigger deal than it sounds. We love Google phones for their clean software, but true Qi2 charging support would give Pixels rare hardware edge over Android competitors."

Editor-at-Large, Lance Ulanoff, just pointed out a suite of things he recalls older Pixel phones sporting.

He detailed the rear fingerprint reader, how the Google Assistant was front and center to the Pixel experience, how good the cameras were, and how some people shrugged at the design.

South Park season 27 episode 3 has already been delayed by a week thanks to a planned break in the schedule, but judging by the first-look trailer, it was well worth the wait. It's reintroducing Towelie, the talking towel first seen all the way back in season 5. This time, he's set to take on the National Guard as he visits Washington DC – and I’m already dreading what’s to come.

After its controversial premiere and a second episode showing US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem shooting puppies in a pet store, the Paramount+ show is holding nothing back against the current US government. Unsurprisingly, the start of season 27 has drawn a lot of public criticism from those featured, which now includes a naked version of Donald Trump and a much smaller version of JD Vance. If anything, switching to Towelie's perspective is an incredibly smart move.

While we don't yet know what will happen in South Park season 27 episode 3 other than the initial teaser of Towelie getting off a bus in front of the US Capitol (which you can see below), a talking towel can't be taken as seriously as any human character seen facing off against political parodies. However, longtime fans of the show will understand how much damage Towelie could actually do... and frankly, I'm dreading it.

Towelie heads to Washington D.C. in South Park season 27 episode 3, and that's dangerous

“Sickofancy”: Towelie goes to Washington, D.C.South Park’s 27th season continues this Wednesday, August 20 at 10/9c on Comedy Central and next day on Paramount+. pic.twitter.com/HVzao5ii4DAugust 20, 2025

In his initial character description that can be found on South Park Fandom, Towelie "is usually seen either appearing out of nowhere to give towel advice to the citizens of South Park or getting high". If there has ever been a sensible decision made by anyone living in South Park, I've yet to see it, and my best guess tells me that any advice given to our political parodies is either going to fall on deaf ears or escalate the situation. As you can see from the above clip, the National Guard has been deployed in the heart of Washington DC, with President Trump also deploying troops to the capital in real life as of August 11, 2025.

There's bound to be references to the US Capitol insurrection of January 6, 2021, especially considering the famous DC museum The Smithsonian changed an exhibit's wording on August 8 to recant Trump's involvement in inciting the violence. In short, it's the hottest national topic South Park could have chosen to illustrate, and surely nobody is coming out the other side unscathed.

Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic and Towelie will merely be able to reconnect with his long-lost son Washcloth against the backdrop of tanks and deployed soldiers, showing him the city's cultural offerings before anything further changes. But let's face it, that's not what we're doing here. Given that Towelie is almost always high, you best bet that Washington DC's views on marijuana are also going to be featured, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see some others indulging too.

I won't be surprised if Paramount+ follows in the footsteps of episode 2 and offers up another exclusive post-credits scene, either to show more content that couldn't be broadcast on cable TV (South Park airs on Comedy Central) or to add new scenes they've created since the episode was originally submitted. This is speculation for the time being, but I'd say it's worthwhile keeping an eye out.

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President Trump needs Congress' permission to use D.C.'s police for over 30 days, but there are no such limits on its National Guard. Experts spoke to NPR about how the takeover could end.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

If you're looking for Bonnie Blue, you came to the right place... if you love the blues. Feature length doc Bonnie Blue: James Cotton's Life in the Blues charts the music icon's extraordinary journey from the Mississippi Delta cotton fields to Austin's live music circuit, via Chicagoland.

You can watch Bonnie Blue online from anywhere with NordVPN – the app lets you watch any content safely, securely, anonymously Handy to have.

Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes

Global stream: Buy or rent from Apple / Amazon / Google

Use NordVPN to watch any stream securely & safely

Born in 1935, Cotton didn't just bridge eras – he helped shape them. Having dragged himself up from the dirt, he as different to most artists, equally at ease rubbing shoulders with gangsters and thugs as he was tearing the house down from the stage. Another thing he delighted in was menacing his fellow performers, trying to sap their confidence before they were due to step out.

Hs 70-year career saw Cotton tour with Janis Joplin and Paul Butterfield, and play sessions with the Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Steve Miller and B.B. King, but he never truly got the recognition that his influence, persona, talent and longevity warranted.

Directed by Bestor Cram, whose work includes Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, Bonnie Blue weaves rarely seen archival footage, stills and anecdotes through an intimate concert held in Cotton's honor, featuring Steve Miller, James Montgomery, Annie Raines, Buddy Guy and many more.

Read on as we explain how to watch Bonnie Blue online from anywhere.

How to watch Bonnie Blue in the US, UK, Australia and Canada

Bonnie Blue: James Cotton's Life in the Blues is available to buy or rent on Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) from Apple, Amazon and Google.

At the time of writing, the documentary doesn't feature in any streaming libraries.

Traveling abroad? You can watch Bonnie Blue online from anywhere with a secure VPN.

How to watch Bonnie Blue with a VPN

If you're keen to watch Bonnie Blue but you're away from home and access to the film or stream is geo-blocked, you can always use a VPN to access it instead (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use one of the best VPNs to watch Bonnie Blue from anywhere:

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Bonnie Blue trailerCan I watch Bonnie Blue free?

The Bonnie Blue film is available to watch online but it's not currently free anywhere. However, it is cheaper is some countries so if you are traveling abroad, use a good VPN to watch your usual streams safely and securely. That way, you can watch Bonnie Blue as if you were back home.

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.

More than 750 current and former HHS employees signed a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. demanding he stop spreading inaccurate information and guarantee the safety of the workforce.

(Image credit: Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

• Intel has reportedly entered talks with the White House
• This could see the US Government taking a stake in the company
• Intel is the most prominent semiconductor manufacturer in the US

The White House has confirmed it is negotiating a deal that could hand over a 10% stake in Intel to the US government.

The chipmaker has faced serious uncertainty in recent months, with multiple quarters of revenue decline, but the agreement could involve trading Intel shares for existing government grants.

"The president wants to put America's needs first, both from a national security and economic perspective," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "We should get an equity stake for our money. We'll get equity in return for that... instead of just giving grants away."

Trade wars

It's a surprise twist to see President Trump turning away from the lassiaze-faire liberal economic policies that have dominated the American economy for decades - all in order to prop up Intel.

Trump previously called for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign - calling him ‘highly conflicted’, most likely due to his stint as CEO of Cadance design systems, an organisation that recently plead guilty to illegally selling export-controlled tech to organisations with connections to the Chinese military.

Intel is perhaps the main US hope at rivaling Chinese and Taiwanese chipmaking giants - who are almost undoubtedly ahead in the semiconductor market battle.

However Intel’s recent layoffs have seen between 15-20% of US factory workers made redundant, indicating that domestic capabilities are not growing as the administration may have hoped.

The potential deal could give Intel the stability it needs to fully invest in domestic manufacturing, and could see the company build a flagship manufacturing hub in Ohio - although the White House dismissed the discussion of potential deals as ‘speculation’.

Fellow chipmaking giants Nvidia and AMD, agreed recently that 15% of chip sales will now go to the US government in exchange for export licences to China - despite growing national security concerns.

Via BBC

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• Stream all Women's Rugby World Cup games free on BBC iPlayer (UK)
• Stream from abroad with NordVPN (save 76% today's deal)
• Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 runs from Fri, Aug 22 to Sat, Sep 27

As both the No.1-ranked team in the world and the tournament hosts, there's no question that England are Women's Rugby World Cup favorites. The Red Roses have only ever lost seven games in the history of the competition, but six of those defeats were inflicted by New Zealand – five in Women's Rugby World Cup finals, the other in a semi-final.

To decribe the No.3-ranked Black Ferns as England's bogey team, then, would be a colossal understatement. They're the only reason England have two world titles to their name rather than seven or eight.

Canada and France, ranked at No.2 and No.4 respectively, fall into the bracket just below them, although No.5-ranked Ireland seem to have a hold over the six-time world champions. The Canucks have made the last four fives times but only reached the final once, while Les Bleues have lost all seven of the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals they've contested.

While there's no question that Ilona Maher is the most famous female rugby player on the planet, USA face a tough task making it out of Pool A. England's reigning World Rugby player of the year Ellie Kildunne, New Zealand's Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Canada's Sophie de Goede look set to light up the tournament.

Read on below for a complete guide to where to watch Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 live streams online, on TV and potentially for free.

Can I stream Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 for free?

All 32 games of the Women's Rugby World Cup are available to watch for free courtesy of BBC iPlayer in the UK. Select fixtures are also free-to-air on RTE Player in Ireland and 9Now in Australia.

Outside any of these countries on holiday? Access your RWC streams using NordVPN — more on that below.

Use a VPN to watch Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 from abroad

You can watch Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 from abroad at no extra cost with NordVPN, which we tested in-depth (see our best VPNs round-up).

Get a VPN, connect to your usual streaming service from anywhere, and watch the rugby live on your screen. Easy!

Resorting to illegal streams is a bad decision. If you're stuck abroad, consider a VPN to safely stream the Women's Rugby World Cup via an official platform such as BBC iPlayer, RTE Player or 9Now.

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How to watch Women's Rugby World Cup live streams in the US

Every game of the Women's Rugby World Cup is being live streamed on Paramount Plus in the US.

A subscription to Paramount Plus starts at $7.99/month, rising to $12.99 to remove ads. You can save on either package by committing to a yearly subscription.

All 32 games are also being shown on CBS Sports Network. If you're a cord-cutter, you can tune in via one of the best cable alternative services, such as Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and YouTube TV.

If you're a UK resident visiting the US during the Women's Rugby World Cup. Use a VPN to watch the tournament free on BBC iPlayer.

How to watch Women's Rugby World Cup live streams in the UK

Every game of the Women's Rugby World Cup is free-to-air on BBC iPlayerin the UK.

All England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland fixtures and the entirety of the knockouts are also being televised on either BBC One or BBC Two.

If you're on holiday outside the UK, you can use NordVPN to access the BBC's coverage. We've used it during The Hundred and it's been brilliant.

How to watch Women's Rugby World Cup live streams in Australia

Every Wallaroos game and the Women's Rugby World Cup final are free-to-air on Channel 9 or 9Gem in Australia, with live streaming available via 9Now.

However, every game of the tournament is being shown on Stan Sport. Prices start from $20 per month for the sport add-on (on top of a regular $12 Stan sub).

If you're currently out of Australia but want to watch Women's Rugby World Cup live streams, you'll need to get yourself a VPN, as per the instructions above.

How to watch Women's Rugby World Cup live streams in Canada

Every game of the Women's Rugby World Cup is being shown on the TSN network of channels.

If you don't have cable, the TSN Plus streaming service costs CA$8 a month or $80 each year.

Outside Canada while the rugby's on? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 FAQsWhat are the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 pools?

Pool A
Australia
England
Samoa
USA

Pool B
Canada
Fiji
Scotland
Wales

Pool C
Ireland
Japan
New Zealand
Spain

Pool D
Brazil
France
Italy
South Africa

What is the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 schedule?

(All times BST)

Group Stage

Friday, August 22
7.30pm – England vs USA | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Saturday, August 23
12pm – Australia vs Samoa | FREE on BBC iPlayer, 9Now
2.45pm – Scotland vs Wales | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
5.30pm – Canada vs Fiji | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
8.15pm – France vs Italy | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Sunday, August 24
12pm – Ireland vs Japan | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
2.45pm – South Africa vs Brazil | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
5.30pm – New Zealand vs Spain | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Saturday, August 30
12pm – Canada vs Wales | FREE on BBC iPlayer
2.45pm – Scotland vs Fiji | FREE on BBC iPlayer
5pm – England vs Samoa | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
7.30pm – USA vs Australia | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player, 9Now

Sunday, August 31
12pm – Ireland vs Spain | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
2pm – New Zealand vs Japan | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
3.30pm – Italy vs South Africa | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
4.45pm – France vs Brazil | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Saturday, September 6
12pm – Canada vs Scotland | FREE on BBC iPlayer
1.30pm – USA vs Samoa | FREE on BBC iPlayer
2.45pm – Wales vs Fiji | FREE on BBC iPlayer
5pm – England vs Australia | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player, 9Now

Sunday, September 7
12pm – Japan vs Spain | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
2pm – Italy vs Brazil | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
2.45pm – New Zealand vs Ireland | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
4.45pm – France vs South Africa | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Knockouts

Saturday, September 13
1pm – Quarter-final 1 | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
4pm – Quarter-final 2 | FREE on BBC iPlayer

Sunday, September 14
1pm – Quarter-final 3 | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player
4pm – Quarter-final 4 | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Friday, September 19
7pm – Semi-final 1 | FREE on BBC iPlayer

Saturday, September 20
3.30pm – Semi-final 2 | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player

Saturday, September 27
12.30pm – Third-place playoff | FREE on BBC iPlayer
4pm – Final | FREE on BBC iPlayer, RTE Player, 9Now

Can I follow Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 on my mobile?

Of course! Each of the major broadcasters has streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.

You can also stay up-to-date with all of the key Women's Rugby World Cup moments on the official social media channels on TikTok (@RugbyWorldCup), Instagram (@RugbyWorldCup) and YouTube (@WorldRugby), and on the Women's Rugby World Cup website.

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.

We tested popular exercise bikes to find the best ones for your home gym.

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Amanda Knox was just 20 years old in 2007 when her British roommate was found dead in their apartment. A new Hulu series dramatizes the story of her wrongful murder conviction.

(Image credit: Mandalit del Barco)