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Decentralized, encrypted, and completely private messages. That's what Session promises.

You may never have heard of the app, but for its 1.7 million monthly users, Session is an important piece of privacy tech worth fighting to sustain.

Due to a severe funding shortfall, Session was expected to cease operations this week. However, after securing $200,000 to keep the project afloat, the team is now ready to look ahead.

Session co-founder Chris McCabe described the app as a "critical tool for fighting against an Orwellian future." But what is Session, and what does it offer that mainstream giants like Signal can't?

How Session survived its financial crisis

Launched in 2018, the project originally sustained its decentralized infrastructure through its own crypto tokens. According to McCabe, the Session Technology Foundation (STF) sold roughly $2.4 million worth of tokens toward the end of 2024 to keep the project going.

However, the model wasn't sustainable and, when a crisis in the crypto market drained Session's finances last year, the founders were forced to terminate the contracts of all 16 of their team members.

Unwilling to let the platform die, the founders scrambled for alternative lifelines. Following a high-profile emergency donation from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin — who gifted 128 ETH to support the app's mission — the foundation decided it was time to turn to its user base for long-term survival.

Without additional funding, Session's doors will close next month. Please read this appeal from Session co-founder Chris McCabe.https://t.co/nTJCocoDwIMarch 19, 2026

That grassroots fundraising campaign ultimately paid off.

To date, Session has received hundreds of community donations totaling $205,000. While that is still a long way off the project's ultimate $1 million sustainability goal, it is enough to keep the platform operational, albeit with far fewer resources than it once had.

"This funding allows us to retain three developers and one community operations person to maintain the app," McCabe explains.

How Session protects your messages

(Image credit: Session)

"Send messages, not metadata" is Session's mantra. To back this up, the app uses a variety of advanced techniques to ensure users' messages remain private and secure.

From basics like end-to-end encryption to the use of a decentralized infrastructure and onion routing, Session goes significantly further than mainstream messaging apps.

"Session is completely trustless," McCabe told TechRadar. "You don't even have to trust us because the open-source code guarantees your security."

In the future, the app's design should also make it less vulnerable to increased surveillance and monitoring, such as the initiatives currently being proposed in Canada, the EU, and the UK.

Did you know?

(Image credit: Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

In October 2024, the platform's creators shifted operations to Europe to help protect users' privacy. The move allowed the team to escape an Australian legal landscape that the founder described as "increasingly hostile" toward encrypted apps, relocating to the traditionally privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Switzerland.

Because the platform is open source, McCabe claimed the app can continue to operate even in countries where it has been banned from mainstream app stores, noting that users can easily bypass those restrictions by sideloading the app on Android devices.

And what happens if a repressive government demands data about an individual user? McCabe noted that the foundation simply couldn't comply, saying: "It's technically impossible for our company to copy or store that data."

Crucially, users do not need a phone number or email address to sign up for the service. That anonymity is especially beneficial for citizens in conflict zones or highly restrictive digital environments, where hostile governments can block SMS two-factor authentication messages to cut off access to mainstream messaging networks.

So, how exactly does Session stack up against mainstream giants like Signal?

Is Session really better than Signal?

(Image credit: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock)

Signal is widely recognized as the gold standard for privacy-preserving messaging apps. Like Session, it is fully open-source, collects minimal metadata, and uses advanced end-to-end encryption via the Signal Protocol.

While McCabe agrees that "Signal is great," he believes that being completely decentralized and eliminating the need for a phone number tips the scales in Session's favor.

However, not everyone in the cybersecurity community shares this view.

A prominent cryptanalyst who uses the pseudonym Soatok has publicly argued against switching from Signal to Session. A major point of criticism is Session’s decision to remove Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) — an important security feature that ensures that past chats remain private even if a user’s long-term identity keys are compromised in the future. Soatok also suggested that Session contained several other cryptographic flaws and implementation mistakes.

Bill Budington, Senior Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), backed Soatok’s analysis, telling TechRadar that Session appears to be another aspiring Signal competitor that "comes up lacking on its security claims."

Mohammed Al-Maskati, the Digital Security Helpline Director at Access Now, shared this concern. He argued that sticking with a widely implemented standard like the Signal Protocol is generally a safer option because it significantly reduces the risk of making critical errors during development.

Responding to these critics, McCabe explained that while Session initially relied on the Signal Protocol, the team was forced to build its own encryption method because Signal's architecture wasn't designed to handle a decentralized node network.

However, he confirmed that PFS is officially slated to be reintegrated into the platform with the upcoming Session Protocol V2 upgrade.

Security experts have also pointed out that Signal remains a stronger choice for most users due to the sheer size of its network, which makes it far easier to use with friends and contacts.

However, McCabe rejects the idea that popularity equates to security, arguing that by that logic, WhatsApp would be considered a better privacy option than Signal. "Which it is not," he said.

What’s next for Session?

As Session prepares to enter its next phase, the foundation is focused on achieving long-term financial sustainability.

To generate steady revenue, the platform plans to launch a premium subscription tier called Session Pro. Similar to Telegram Premium, Session Pro will offer power users advanced features — such as higher message character limits, expanded group sizes, more pinned chats, and animated profile pictures — backed by cryptographic proofs that preserve user anonymity during payment.

Most pressing, however, is finalizing Session's Protocol V2. Beyond reintroducing Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), it will also introduce post-quantum cryptography to secure users' chats against 'harvest now, decrypt later' threats.

While the wider InfoSec community continues to be divided on whether Session's custom architecture outperforms legacy rivals, the core team remains fiercely dedicated to the project.

"Many former team members are incredibly passionate and are taking pay cuts or donating their time to help get it back together," said McCabe.

And with mandatory age verification, lawful access to data, and encryption backdoors challenging the very notion of online privacy globally, it seems that messaging app like Session are going to become increasingly important.

As McCabe puts it: "People often don't realize they need this level of privacy until things go really badly and freedom of speech is restricted."

If you want to support the platform, Session continues to accept donations directly through its official website and mobile application.

Apple lost its EU court challenge over iOS and the App Store, keeping both under the Digital Markets Act as another legal challenge still remains possible.

The post Apple Loses EU Court Fight Over iOS, App Store Rules appeared first on TechRepublic.

Restaurant owners are feeling the pinch, through consistently rising costs of ingredients, labor and energy bills.

There is however a less visible profit drain: the silent loss of the phone ringing unanswered as the kitchen struggles to cope.

It’s lost business in disguise, and another area where the customer experience can let down a restaurant in its busiest moments.

Despite the growth in online orders, phone ordering still happens. But the point is when it occurs: phone orders spike at the exact moment a restaurant is slammed during service.

A quick-service restaurant that faces heavy load during its peak hours is likely to see the greatest inbound volume of calls at the same time: Friday or Saturday night.

The owner is forced to choose between answering the phone and dealing with existing customers and orders.

Neither scenario is ideal, nor does it do anything good for the customer experience.

Why traditional workflows fail to scale

Many solutions deployed in the hope of managing phone orders have failed to scale or were prohibitively expensive. Hiring additional personnel to attend to phone lines is costly, and the employee still cannot take more than one call at a time.

Even in this scenario, callers may have to wait on hold, leave voicemail, or receive a busy signal. Then, it becomes frustrating to try and connect to the restaurant again when waiting in line.

There’s also the question of precision. The most mistakes happen under pressure: misunderstood orders, incorrect delivery locations, allergy-related instructions missed. While some of those mistakes may only constitute bad customer experience, others lead to waste, losses, refunds, and sometimes, lost customers.

Finally, the opportunity cost of having employees talk to customers instead of doing other things is huge: each minute they spend talking on the phone is a minute spent not preparing meals, dealing with issues of in-store customers, or completing deliveries on time.

What do AI voice agents bring to the table?

AI voice systems can significantly improve the customer experience across a few critical use cases:

Availability: the system is available to pick up every phone call, no matter how busy the restaurant may be inside. There’s no on-hold messaging queue, no hold music, voicemail message, and most importantly, no missed calls.

Concurrency: a human agent can focus on one call at a time. The AI system, however, can manage multiple calls simultaneously, which is especially useful during the moments of peak demand.

Accuracy through confirmation: if done right, AI systems repeat the order before confirming it to eliminate errors and mistakes from the process entirely.

Intent-based conversations: not everyone calls in with the intention of placing a new order. Some have questions, want to update their existing order, or do something else entirely. A properly managed implementation will ensure that the phone system knows what the caller intends to do and collects the information necessary to complete the request successfully.

It also guarantees that every interaction with the phone agent goes through the same steps: identifying intent, gathering data, fulfilling the request, confirming its completion, and providing a smooth user experience.

More precise recommendations: AI-powered recommendations are always relevant and consistent throughout the entire conversation. They are not distracting or annoying and help to boost orders’ value.

One useful way to sanity-check the value is simple volume. One recent rollout reported an AI phone agent processing over 4,000 orders in three months, and capturing thousands in orders from the busiest sites.

More importantly, calls were answered immediately even at peak, and concurrency stopped being the bottleneck.

Why is the technology finally practical?

Voice automation technology is no novelty anymore, but the recent advances in the field are all about speed and intent recognition. More advanced algorithms mean fewer misunderstandings. Improved integration with ordering systems helps to implement voice as a channel of communication, allowing businesses to serve more customers during peak times.

Two other changes are making a difference in real deployments: localization of voice, and better menu understanding. This means when a customer does not know the exact name of a dish, the phone agent can still find what they mean without turning the call into a guessing game.

Practical implementation: where to deploy voice systems

The strongest signals here are the number of incoming calls and a complicated multi-site operation. But even the smaller restaurants with a handful of calls per day can be good candidates for voice automation due to the inefficiencies associated with having an employee to attend to the phones. Automation replaces a fixed staffing cost with something you can scale up and down.

The following are the guidelines for responsible deployments:

Structure around intents: not everyone calls in for an order; therefore, the phone agent should handle ordering, updating the order, and answering questions efficiently, offering clear prompts and a consistent user experience at each step of the interaction.

Transparency: the system should notify callers about the automation process and inform them if the conversation might be recorded.

Over time, the most useful systems also get more flexible around how orders are completed. For example, enabling cash ordering where it makes operational sense, or sending an SMS link if someone abandons the order mid-call, with the basket pre-filled so they can finish on their phone. Those are small touches, but they remove friction in the moments where customers typically drop off.

Implementing voice automation in the restaurant operation allows managers to scale easily, provide consistent customer experience, and generate more orders in the process.

Not futuristic, but practical

Framing voice technology as a future-state project does not benefit the hospitality industry. Voice technology is available now and brings a significant ROI from the revenue you are already generating.

The telephone line has become a nuisance in many restaurant operations for too long. Implementing a proper phone management strategy turns it into an operational channel you can manage.

We've listed the best POS systems for restaurants.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

The iPhone 18 Pro Max could become thicker and heavier as Apple reportedly plans a larger battery and upgraded cooling system.

The post iPhone 18 Pro Max: New Battery May Make It Apple’s Heaviest in Years appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora says 90% reduction in AI pricing is needed to drive widespread adoption, 20% reduction by next year
• OpenAI's latest GPT-5.6 Sol model is 54% more efficient across agentic coding tasks
• Shift to consumption-based models is making high costs even more pronounced

Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora has warned that AI pricing is still too high for widespread enterprise adoption, arguing that it should be drastically cheaper.

Although model efficiency and performance have come a long way in recent years, he believes cost remains one of the biggest barriers for widespread adoption.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Arora laid out how he believes token prices need to fall by as much as 90%, however he acknowledges that the change is unlikely to happen immediately, instead welcoming a 20% price reduction over the next year or so.

Is AI pricing holding enterprises back from widespread adoption?

Arora's comments come in response to OpenAI's latest announcement, revealing that its latest GPT-5.6 Sol model is now 54% mode token-efficient across agentic coding tasks – a major improvement.

Though Palo Alto Networks' CEO admitted that this in itself is a good start, it's not enough of an improvement to drastically change pricing for major enterprises at the moment.

"It's important to understand the demand continues to be infinite," he added, implying that cost remains prohibitive. The issue of cost is also becoming more of an issue as AI companies evolve their pricing strategies, with customers moving toward consumption-based models rather than flat monthly fees per user.

Importantly, Arora's vision for cheaper AI isn't unfounded. Virtually all previous technological revolutions have already followed a similar pattern. In the case of AI, compute would become cheaper, models would become more efficient and competition could keep prices low, all working in the favor of enterprise customers.

See what you missed in Daily Tech Insider from July 6–10.

The post AI Breakthroughs, Security Breaches, and Industry Shakeups Define the Week appeared first on TechRepublic.

Ready to relax this weekend in front of your TV (or smartphone, I'm not judging)? Some of you will do well to find something worth enjoying on the world's best streaming services.

Indeed, it's been a surprisingly quiet week for new movies and TV shows. And, while there's just enough to fill this week's streaming round-up, a few of you might not be enthused by how weak the selection is compared to past editions

Still, I'm holding out hope that one of the below will pique your interest. If not... well, there's always the 2026 World Cup quarter finals to watch instead! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Little House on the Prairie season 1 (Netflix)

Netflix has made it 1974 all over again! The Ingalls family return to the small screen in this adaptation of Little House on the Prairie (NB: read my Little House on the Prairie review while you're here), which is based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's book series namesake.

Essentially, this story, which sees protagonist Laura navigates her childhood days on the Prairie lands of Kansas, is comfort watching at its peak. And, while its typical "Netflix look" can be grating, if you look past the form, the content is meaningful. Season 2 is already on the way, too, and I'm already looking forward to it. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Little House on the Prairie season 1 on Netflix

The Westies (MGM+ and Prime Video)

Searching for a new gritty crime drama to gorge? The Westies, a J.K. Simmons-fronted MGM+ TV Original that's also available on Prime Video, should appeal to you.

Set in the early 1980s, it follows the notorious New York crime family as they navigate mob wars, familial infighting, and an FBI investigation that might unsettle the increasingly fragile truce that the Hell's Kitchen-based syndicate has with the Italian Mafia.

Episodes 1 and 2 of this Amazon TV Original are out now, while new chapters will air weekly every Sunday for the foreseeable future. — JV

• Watch The Westies on MGM+ and Prime Video

The Long Walk (HBO Max)

Francis Lawrence's excellent The Long Walk has strolled onto HBO Max and, in my view,it's one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all-time.

Set in a dystopian 1970s, a group of boys compete in an annual televised competition where they're forced to walk non-stop while maintaining a pace of 4.8 km per hour. If they don't, they're killed. There can only be one winner, too, so the pressure is on.

There are lots of likeable characters here and one very unlikeable one in the form of Mark Hamill's The Major, which is arguably his creepiest performance yet. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch The Long Walk on HBO Max

Trying season 5 (Apple TV)

Apple TV's long running comedy series Trying has returned for its fifth season.

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall return as central couple Nikki and Jason, who we've watched journey to become parents and, now they have two foster children, they're having to navigate unexpected challenges. This season, Kat (Charlotte Riley), the biological mother of Princess and Tyler, returns and causes the family dynamics to shift.

Trying has been praised for its approach to difficult themes, providing both comedy and emotionally charged moments. It's very good to have this Apple TV Original back on our screens. — LB

• Watch Trying season 5 on Apple TV

Wardriver (Paramount+)

Did you really think that we were going to leave you action fans hanging this week? Introducing Wardriver, a new movie that's just dropped on Paramount+ and has already been described by fans online as "great acting of unsavory characters."

In it, we follow a hacker who gets caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse when he's forced into a multi-mullion dollar cyberheist. There's a real sense of jeopardy here, as every line of code could be his last.

Hopefully, that "last" doesn't come before the end of the movie's pithy 94-minute runtime. But hey, who knows with storytelling these days? — JV

• Watch Wardriver on Paramount+

The Man Will Burn (HBO Max)

No doubt you've heard of The Burning Man, but how much do you know about its roots? You can now experience this iconic arts festival from the comfort of your living room, so you don't even need to to trek out into the desert.

Across four episodes, we go behind the scenes of the eponymous effigy's festival, from its origins all the way up to the present day. There's particular focus on organizing an event of this scale in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, too.

Both seasoned "Burners" and new arrivals feature in the documentary, giving us a complete look at the festival and how it has evolved over time. — LB

• Watch The Man Will Burn on HBO Max

Married at First Sight season 20 (Peacock)

Despite all the controversies surrounding the international versions, we're returning to where it all began with Married at First Sight. Just as Love Island USA comes to an end as well, so perfect timing.

You know the score here: 14 new singles will agree to marry someone they’ve never met, and see if their newfound relationship was actually worth saying "I do" for.

Experts Paul C. Brunson and Doctor Lisa Paz are returning to oversee the drama and, judging by the above trailer, the weddings themselves genuinely look the chicest they've ever been. — JV

• Watch Married at First Sight season 20 on Peacock

• Bad Apples has been given a global theatrical release date after premiering at TIFF
• A new trailer confirmed the movie would be in theaters from September 18 for viewers in the UK and US
• The dark comedy is the English-language debut for Jonatan Etzler

Bad Apples may have fallen under the radar after its TIFF debut, but the new dark comedy movie finally has a global release date.

The Saoirse Ronan led movie will be in UK and US theaters from September 18, and we've got a brand new trailer to celebrate the new movie's theatrical release thanks to Paramount Pictures.

Bad Apples follows Maria, a teacher who becomes frustrated when her class of ten year olds is disrupted by one unruly pupil, Danny (Eddie Waller). When Maria accidentally kidnaps Danny and holds him hostage in her house, it sets off an unexpected chain of events.

Take a look at the trailer below.

Bad Apples looks like a perfect blend of comedy and drama, and I can't wait to see it

This is the kind of movie that reels me in instantly. We've got a seemingly ordinary main character in the form of a schoolteacher, who then goes on to make very questionable characters.

The plot of Bad Apples teases that Maria sees her class performance improve once Danny is "missing", which gives her a moral dilemma. Should she release him or keep him held in her home, where he's not disrupting the rest of her class?

Bad Apples is based on the novel De Oönskade (The Unwanted) by Swedish author Rasmus Andersson, which is described as a satirical thriller. So I'm expecting a lot of timely commentary in this movie, which will soon be widely available in theaters.

The movie currently has an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics praising the story, performances and soundtrack. So it's promising stuff already.

September 18 is a long wait, but thankfully we have plenty of recommendations to keep you entertained until then. If it's horror you're after, check out my round up of the best horror movies to stream in July.

Or, if you'd like more general Paramount movies, check out the best movies to watch on Paramount+.

• Samsung is reportedly giving up on small-screen foldables
• That means the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be the last in the series
• It's a credible claim, but if enough people vote with their wallet perhaps the Flip line can still be saved

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a superb phone, achieving 4.5 stars in our review. But despite its excellence, Samsung might be giving up on this clamshell series after the Galaxy Z Flip 8 launches.

This is according to reputable leaker @UniverseIce, who stated on X that “the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be Samsung's last small folding product.”

They didn’t say why that might be, but we can take a guess. For one thing, while the Flip line used to be Samsung’s most popular foldable phone series, there’s evidence that this trend could be starting to change. For example, FN News reported that in South Korea at least, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 received more pre-orders than the Z Flip 7.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be Samsung's last small folding product. pic.twitter.com/9zN4nNRLT2July 9, 2026

So there could be a growing appetite for large-screen book-style foldables, which makes sense given that larger conventional phones tend to outsell compact models. And with the book-style iPhone Ultra reportedly launching this year, the appetite for that style of foldable is only likely to grow.

Plus, arguably one of the main selling points of the Z Flip line was that it provided a relatively affordable way to get a foldable phone, but with rising memory costs that might cease to be the case.

And on top of all that, Samsung is reportedly launching a shorter, wider book-style foldable this year alongside its conventional successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with this new form factor being bigger than a Flip but still smaller than the company’s current large-screen foldables. So Samsung might see this as something that fans of smaller phones could buy instead of a new Flip.

A phone that would be missed

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

While this claim from @UniverseIce is believable, I certainly hope they’re wrong. Despite all the reservations above, the Flip is still an appealing line of fofldables.

They’re extremely compact when folded shut, which is sure to appeal to some people, and even with rising memory prices they’re likely to remain cheaper than book-style foldables. So it would be a shame for choice and variety if they disappeared.

Still, it’s likely that Samsung will be looking at sales of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and the new wider Galaxy Z Fold before making any final decisions, so if the former does particularly well or the latter struggles, there’s still hope for a Galaxy Z Flip 9.

In other words, if it’s something you’d like to see then you should vote with your wallet this year and give Samsung’s upcoming clamshell device some love.

For the last three years I’ve been imploring anyone who will listen to assuage the AI Fear Economy and the AI Doomonomics messaging that dominates our current AI news cycle.

The sleepwalkers among us and the ones that stand to financially benefit from the FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete) will continue the walking dead path but many experts are finally disagreeing with the narrative that I have been spearheading for over three years now.

I’ve spent countless hours proving AIs limitations in numerous podcasts, interviews and keynotes along with my “AI Exposed” series. I really cannot find the “off” button for exposing the truth.

If you use AI every day, you know the foundational flaws of the transformer-based generative LLM kingdom.

You see the mistakes, errors, forgetfulness, hallucinations, sycophancy, recency bias, kindergarten math fails, regression to the mean, the waiter problem, no real memory, no real world experience, no determinism, no thinking, no cognition, no sense of time, no real context (environmental, cognitive bias, natural behaviors, awareness, etc.), no uniqueness, no native ethics, no agency, no intelligence (really), no accountability, no “strawberry”. Need more?

AI was never built to do the things the industry is asking it to do. Current LLMs are word predictors. They are the trillion dollar equivalent to an autocomplete on acid. Nothing more.

Workforce Extinction is what the economy is selling but Human+AI empowerment is what will be our final state. We just have to get through the current AI dystopia superbubble burst first unfortunately - which might take a bit more time than we would all like. Remember ATMs? Did they replace bank tellers? No. Remember the corner grocery store? Did Amazon eliminate them after buying Whole Foods in 2017, almost 10 years ago? No.

So how can AI be employed today in partnership with Humans to make them superpowerful?

Human: “This is my 6th meeting today. I’m exhausted.”

AI: “I’ve got your back.”

The bane of our existence, I know certainly mine. I am not talking about the nice small talk or the social and connective tissue that creates strong bonds and trust and loyalty (all of which AI cannot replicate today in the slightest), but the mechanical and mundane meetings that litter our week, every week.

Look at your calendar right now and identify next week’s meetings. Are they “ideation” or “decision making” meetings? The dreaded “Sync” meetings? Or the “Stand-ups”? All of these can be augmented if not completely replaced by AI in a powerful synchronicity that solves the “cold start” problem, immediately empowering you to make sound decisions collectively and collaboratively without you being physically present. After all, ideation is all about tapping into the potentiality of an outcome given all the relevant and contextual facts and information.

The implicit and invisible cognitive biases that humans bring to every meeting every day hold us back. Scour your historical consciousness and you will find thoughts such as “I don’t like this guy, so all his opinions are garbage,” or “I am just going to follow what the boss says,” without really understanding everything. Human gut, instinct, impulse, habits are all driving us unconsciously, invisibly. Unfortunately you are not in control of the productivity wheel.

Human decision-making is unique and infinitely complex

How you see the world, your behavior and decision-making is all unique and infinitely complex, but all patterned by high dimensional mathematics (a.k.a. AI). Synergizing your unique perspectives, ideation and problem solving with an artificial knowledge system like AI can produce incredible results in quality, accuracy and speed resulting in incredible “AI assisted” performance.

We see this confluence every day inside the company and with our customers by building group decisions automatically with each human voice being a part of the discussion to determine the best outcome. Consensus and collaboration without the human in the mix but in their unique voice through their unique prism and in synchronous cognitive sequence allows for easy ownership and accountability, at incredible speed.

And the final kicker that no one is seeing? What are you going to do when Claude or ChatGPT make a bad decision or make an error in judgment? Are you going to fire them? Write them up in Workday? Dock their pay? Good luck. It will never happen. Only humans can be held accountable.

And don’t even get me started on the Token Tsunamis happening right now. Left uncontrolled, companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars beyond their annual budgets on AI coding and all for what? Where’s the ROI? And the prices for these models are only going higher. The small companies will be priced out very soon.

HUMANS+AI > AI

Luckily the solution is right in front of our noses: the mirror. At the end of the day, AI is only a tool. And a rather crappy tool that needs duct tape (RAG and vector databases), bailing wire (MCP and Frameworks and Agents), bubble gum (guardrails and governance), spittle (memory and state management) and Elmer’s wood glue (evaluation and synthetic testing) just to get a mostly correct answer to the question: “Who is the current US president?” on an offline local model.

All this scaffolding is in place today because the core LLM sucks at all the above. More tokens. More Token Typhoons.

AI today (at best) is Artificial Knowledge that can absolutely be leveraged by smart people and senior staff to produce high quality decision making and actioning. Do not get discouraged, but instead learn how to leverage it. Dive deep and differentiate yourself. Only through leveraging a good tool (like a skill saw) can you frame a house.

The “AI Antidote”

Interpersonal friction and endless alignment meetings are keeping your team from doing their best work. I make it my mission to unblock your team's highest potential, using our AI and turn ideas into decisions in minutes. My team and I harness AI for the betterment of humans to prevent workforce extinction. For now…

We've listed the best video conferencing software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Proton VPN Free is undoubtedly among the best free VPNs available. Offering a broad spectrum of compatibility across devices, impressive speeds, and unlimited bandwidth, it would be easy for anyone looking for a free VPN to get started using Proton VPN Free.

That said, its apps aren't the simplest, you're limited to only one connected device at a time, and you can't choose which of its 10 available locations you connect to. Plus, our testing found some concerning throttling indicators which could make Proton VPN Free one to avoid should you be looking for a free streaming VPN or torrenting VPN.

Features

Proton VPN Free does exactly what a VPN needs to do and little else. Included in the free plan is your VPN connection, a kill switch, all of Proton VPN's protocols, and the ability to customise your app icon, in case you find yourself in a region with VPN restrictions.

Following recent updates, the app now offers 10 free servers and the company are developing a new, in-house VPN architecture that could lead to significant improvements in the future.

In our testing, we found no reason to be concerned about the kill switch. It was easy enough to set up, though it does require the VPN to be set as an 'always-on VPN' on Android devices.

Upgrading to a paid Proton VPN plan unlocks a plethora of further capabilities for the VPN.

For starters, NetShield, Proton VPN's ad, tracker, and malware blocking software. You can also access Proton VPN's Secure Core server network, which is its equivalent of multi-hop, use Proton for P2P downloading and file sharing, gain one-click access to Tor, split-tunnel your VPN traffic, and unlock Proton VPN's full suite of customization options.

These customisation options range from custom DNS to LAN connections, and even specific NAT types, plus you can set up specific profiles with tailored settings. Something to note is that while Proton VPN Free does allow you to create these fully customized profiles, you can only use them once you upgrade to a paid plan.

Features score: 4/10

Server Network

Proton VPN Free highlights one of the often overlooked benefits of paid VPNs, the ability to choose the server location you need, rather than simply being provided with one.

Proton VPN Free offers 10 server locations: the Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, Mexico, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Poland and Canada.

However, you do not get to choose which of these servers you connect to; instead, you are auto-connected to the fastest server available to you, which, more often than not, is the closest.

While not a big concern, should you plan to use Proton VPN Free just to secure your online traffic, it does limit Proton VPN Free's capabilities as a streaming VPN. Plus, you're likely guaranteed to have speed limitations if you're not close to any of the servers.

Choosing Proton VPN's paid version drastically increases the offering. Upping the countries available to a whopping 148, and, more importantly, you gain the ability to choose the exact location you want to connect to.

Server network score: 5/10

Apps

Despite being free, Proton VPN Free offers a good selection of apps. Free plan users can access Proton VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, and Chromebooks.

The biggest omission from this list that you'd be able to access should you choose Proton VPN's paid plan is Apple TV. While all other expected streaming devices work with the free plan, Apple TV users will be prompted to upgrade rather than be able to use the free service.

Proton VPN recently underwent a refresh of many of its apps, leading to a new, sleek design across platforms such as Windows, iOS, and Android. (Image credit: Future)

Generally, however, the spread of compatibility available is impressive. What's more, each of Proton VPN Free's apps closely resembles each other, and features that might be hidden on smaller screen devices, such as mobiles, are easily accessible should you be looking to use Proton VPN free on your tablet or computer.

Apps score: 8/10

Ease of use

Proton VPN across both its paid and free plans is not the simplest VPN to look at, though this doesn't make it trouble to use, even if beginners might need a touch more time.

What must be said, though, is that while Proton VPN Free isn't the simplest to look at, it is arguably the best free VPN to look at for sheer aesthetics. Its dark purple theme, partnered with a simple enough map interface, makes for extremely pleasant viewing, even if all you can do with the free plan is click the connect button before you set about your browsing elsewhere.

FutureFuture

Setting up Proton VPN Free is appreciably simple. Most notably, you're not instantly pushed to make a paid plan account from the outset, unlike many free VPNs. Instead, should you need to sign up, you simply create your account by clicking the button on the login menu, and after going through the steps and signing in, you're greeted with the usual home screen, and a bar telling you what you're missing out on by not having the paid plan. No hidden free plan signup, no trial you need to navigate, just quick access to the free service, and easy ways to upgrade should you choose to.

Once in, there are only two buttons you need to worry about: connect, which you're greeted with on the main screen, and your kill switch. As mentioned already, given the lack of server choice, the connect button does everything for you once clicked, connecting you to the fastest server in a matter of seconds. Your kill switch can be found quickly via the settings tab on mobile phones and tablets, or via the kill switch icon on computers.

Ease of use score: 8/10

Speed and performance

Proton VPN Free is, without doubt, one of the quickest free VPNs available. In terms of speeds, Proton VPN free achieved a maximum of 1009 Mbps, which is by no means slow. These kinds of speeds would comfortably allow you to stream, game, or browse without any major issues.

That said, testing on an Android device saw our speeds when connected to the VPN halve when compared to what we saw without a VPN connection using either WiFi or a mobile data connection.

A bigger concern we found was evidence of substantial speed throttling after a certain amount of data was used. In testing, after using 3-4GB of data, we saw our speeds drop to only around 5 Mbps, which, while fine for browsing or emails, would leave you struggling should you wish to stream or download on your VPN connection.

Given the lack of server choice, it's unlikely you'd choose Proton VPN Free for streaming anyway, but this should definitely come into consideration. Should you be looking for a fast and simple solution to day-to-day internet needs, Proton VPN Free is a seriously strong option.

Speed and performance score: 7/10

Unblocking

Testing Proton VPN's ability to unblock content isn't a simple feat because, as we've mentioned, you don't get to choose the location you connect to.

This means seeing the full scope of Proton VPN Free's capabilities isn't possible from one testing location. What we can say is that we were flawlessly able to access Dutch streaming services, including Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video.

When we managed to connect to Canada, we could unblock Netflix but failed to unblock Prime Video and Disney+.

Although we cannot guarantee the same levels of success in other regions, our testing of Proton VPN's paid plan suggests you should have similar success. This is because the paid plan was able to comfortably unblock most of the streaming services we tested in all 149 regions, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, 10Play, 9Now, and more.

It did struggle with Prime Video more regularly, though this is something we've seen across many VPNs in our latest round of testing.

Unblocking score: 5/10

Privacy and security

Despite not being able to access Proton's full suite of security features with Proton VPN Free, you have no reason to feel as though your data is at any risk, thanks to how the service has been set up.

First and foremost, Proton VPN is constantly proving that it not only doesn't store your data, but also that it has no vulnerabilities that may put your online privacy at risk. An independent audit by Securitum across August and September 2025 marked the 4th consecutive year in which Proton has proven its claims, and while, at the time of writing, we've yet to see an audit in 2025, we expect this to continue.

When using Proton VPN Free, you can use any of its various secure VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and its proprietary Stealth protocol. Both WireGuard and OpenVPN have long been common in the VPN industry, and both have been proven countless times to be secure and reliable protocols.

WireGuard uses its traditional ChaCha20 encryption with Proton VPN, while Proton VPN's OpenVPN deployment uses AES-256, another impressively secure encryption method.

In January 2026, Proton announced it was removing support for OpenVPN configuration files that were downloaded before September 2023. Users of the official app are unaffected. However, people running manual setups on routers, Linux terminals, or third-party clients must refresh their credentials.

Stealth, Proton VPN's proprietary protocol, is an obfuscated version of WireGuard that runs over TLS. This makes your browsing data look like normal encrypted browsing data to anyone who might analyze your traffic to spot VPN usage. For most, this is a bonus that won't be entirely necessary, but should you be tackling enterprise rule-based firewalls or DPI-based firewalls, this protocol may prove to have better luck.

Key things missing from Proton VPN Free include Proton VPN's equivalent of multihop, called Secure Core, as well as its NetShield ad, malware, and tracking blocker, and any kind of split tunneling.

While missing out on split-tunneling and multihop is unfortunate, we'd usually recommend running an external ad and malware blocker alongside a VPN anyway, so NetShield doesn't prove as big a loss.

Privacy and security score: 8/10

Track record

Given Proton's wide suite of security tools and privacy-first claims, it attracts a great deal of attention and scrutiny online. Luckily, for the most part, it has proven to be flawless. An instance in 2019 where Proton Mail was forced to log a climate activist's IP after a law enforcement request proves to be the only mark on an otherwise problem-free record across its product range.

Swiss law works differently for VPN providers. VPN providers cannot be compelled to carry out bulk surveillance by either Swiss or foreign law enforcement. This makes Proton VPN much less vulnerable to requests that might put privacy at risk. At an individual account level, Proton VPN does need to comply with legally valid cases brought by the Swiss court, even if made by foreign entities. However, Switzerland has no ties to the EU, US, or NATO intelligence sharing pacts, and often doesn't recognize requests from countries with a poor judicial reputation.

Switzerland's privacy laws have been under review during the past 12 months, raising concerns that privacy protections may be undermined should certain provisions come into force. However, companies – including Proton – have pushed back on the proposals and, at the time of writing, no significant changes have been introduced.

Track record score: 9/10

Customer Support

Proton VPN's customer support options are more limited than most, especially on its free plan.

Should you encounter any issues while using the free plan, you can either use its support site to browse articles that may help you fix your issue, or you can use a contact email address to get some form of support from a human, depending on your issue.

In practice, Proton VPN's support articles are impressively helpful, and there's more than enough of them to cover most issues you face, and while it can be slow to contact a human via email, it's at least a viable alternative should you run into any issues not covered.

The biggest omission for Proton VPN Free customers is no live support functionalities. Even paid Proton VPN customers aren't quite able to access 24/7 support, but the lack of any kind of live chat does mean beginners could be left in the cold if struggling to find the support they need early on in their time using a VPN.

Customer support score: 7/10

Pricing and plans

Proton VPN Free does lack a fair amount compared to what a paid Proton VPN plan can offer, but that doesn't mean it isn't a supremely capable free VPN, depending on your needs.

By choosing to upgrade to Proton VPN's paid option, you can access:

• 19,000+ servers across 149 countries – plus the ability to choose which server you connect to!
• Servers capable of speeds up to 10 Gbps with VPN Accelerator
• Netshield ad, malware, and tracker blocking
• Secure Core (multihop) connections
• P2P downloading and file sharing
• 10 simultaneous connections
• The Tor network within your regular browser
• Split tunneling
• VPN Profiles
• Advanced VPN customisation settings

Given Proton VPN starts from $3.59 per month, that is a lot to include in that cost. While it's not as cheap as Surfshark or NordVPN, its paid plan also proved to be capable of speeds which matched the very fastest VPNs throughout, and it also proved flawless at unblocking streaming services.

So, while Proton VPN Free is a great free VPN choice to secure your day-to-day online activities, upgrading to a paid plan could prove to be extremely beneficial depending on what you want to achieve with your VPN.

Pricing and plans score: 9/10

Should you use Proton VPN Free?

If you are looking for a free VPN to protect you while you’re out and about, working overseas, or on holiday, and you’re worried about privacy when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi or someone else’s network, Proton VPN Free is without doubt a good choice for you.

While it doesn’t have much in the way of extra features, you can install it on your device, connect to the VPN, and then pretty much forget all about it. With speeds that will comfortably handle most tasks, an easy-enough interface, and a simple setup process, it's a breeze to get connected in a matter of minutes without being pressed into upgrading to its paid option.

Overall score: 70/100

Alternatives

NordVPN – from $3.49 per month
The best VPN overall
NordVPN ranks as our best VPN overall, making it a superb alternative to any VPN, especially a free one such as Proton VPN Free. Comparing NordVPN to Proton VPN's paid plan, you get more countries, even if only one, equally impressive speeds, clocking in over 1200 Mbps, and a whole host of features, including Threat Protection Pro and Meshnet, all for a price cheaper than Proton VPN. View Deal

Surfshark – from $2.49 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Surfshark is the best cheap VPN out there, at only $1.99 per month for two years. Add to that impressive features such as Alternative ID, Surfshark Search, and Antivirus, and you can find yourself a complete security package for a matter of dollars with little difficulty.View Deal

ExpressVPN - from $2.49 per month
A beginner-friendly VPN package
ExpressVPN is without doubt one of the most secure VPN providers. It’s a more expensive VPN than almost any other VPN provider, but in return, you access a high-speed server network that spans 113 countries. Plus, it offers one of the easiest interfaces we've tested, across almost any device you can think of, even if you only get 10-14 simultaneous connections to use at once.View Deal

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.

• AI data center power consumption will soon exceed the consumption of conventional data centers
• Global data center power consumption has risen by 26% since 2025
• In the US, AI data centers account for 36% of all data center power consumption

Data centers built to add capacity for AI will soon consume more power than conventional data center hardware. Consuming 175 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2026, predictions take that number to 258 TWh in 2027 - at which AI-optimized data centers will pass conventional data centers for consumption.

Compared to 2025, AI data center power consumption has increased by around 84%.These are the findings of a Gartner forecast that also predicts AI optimized servers to account for 31% of data center power consumption in 2026.

This level of consumption, combined with an excess in electricity demand compared to production, will be the main constraint on future AI expansion, Gartner predicts. But data center consumption as a whole is expected to be 565 TWh in 2026, a 26% increase year over year.

Consumption on the rise, but capacity is slow to expand

When it comes to global consumption, the US accounts for 36% or around 204 TWh of the full 565 TWh of global demand. Within that slice of US demand, AI data centers account for one third, with expected consumption for 2026 to be around 68 TWh.

"Surging demand for compute-intensive AI workloads is driving unprecedented data center power growth, while AI capacity is now constrained by power availability, making data center power security the new battle ground for scaling and protecting margins in the global AI race," said Gartner's Direct Analyst Linglan Wang.

By 2030, Garter predicts that supply will be unable to meet demand once consumption passes the 1,200 TWh mark.

In order to address this constraint, Wang suggested that business leaders and infrastructure providers should focus on upgrading the efficiency of power grids and the hardware that draws the most power such as cooling systems.

A recent Google Cloud report further suggested that to address the rising cost of power consumption, businesses should move from running AI models on a centralized cloud to edge deployments, where the efficiency of these systems is increased with the added benefit of avoiding a global outage of services if the centralized cloud system fails.

But these levels of consumption increase will hardly help to cool the rising anti-data center sentiment in the US, which—when combined with hardware and power production shortages—has seen nearly half of all data centers in 2026 delayed or cancelled.

Via Tom’s Hardware

• Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 were just ported to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Aside from an upgraded picture quality, they seem otherwise identical to the original versions
• Some fans are convinced that they just don't feel right, however

Yesterday, Activision treated us to the surprise release of not one, but two Call of Duty ports. You can now buy the original Black Ops and its acclaimed follow-up, Black Ops 2, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for the very first time.

They upgrade the resolution of both games on these newer consoles (a substantial step up from the 608p native picture quality of the backwards compatible versions available on Xbox) but otherwise seem almost identical to their original incarnations.

Even some big features that many fans thought would be cut, like Black Ops 2's infamous emblem creator, are present and accounted for.

I picked up copies of the two games immediately with my own cash (there's currently an irresistible 50% discount on them if you have PS Plus) and spent the best part of yesterday evening playing on my PS5. Aside from the crisper picture quality, they're just as I remember.

I replayed the original versions of both games pretty recently too, via second-hand physical copies that I bought for my Xbox Series X to refresh my knowledge of both games ahead of the Black Ops 7 launch — this latest entry is a Black Ops 2 sequel, after all.

Some fans aren't as impressed, though, and argue that the games just don't feel right.

"Black Ops 1 PS5 has a serious controller input lag issue that needs to be adressed [sic] and fixed" argued one poster on r/callofduty. "It surely wasn’t this bad on PS3".

"Sounds like the original launch" another fan replied, with someone else chiming in: "The golden days" and a tongue-in-cheek sobbing emoji.

"BO1 always felt hard to aim in even in the old days compared to BO2. Pretty sure this is normal" added someone else.

Another post similarly reckons that "The responsiveness is terrible. I distinctly remember the original Black Ops 1 feeling way crisper than this". The top comment agrees, complaining that "I’m losing every gun fight because my gun doesn’t fire in time".

Although everything feels fine to me, there's definitely a chance that those playing specific resolutions, on specific TVs, or with features like VRR enabled might be having a much worse experience. I expect some patches will be released in the coming weeks if these claims hold water.

A printer is an absolute staple of the student set-up. The trick is finding one that a) doesn't take years to print a single page and b) offers good value for money. And this is why I always recommend ink tank printers for college and university students.

I've specifically chosen tank printers like the EcoTank, Smart Tank, and MegaTank lines because almost every one you buy comes with a generous amount of bottled ink in the box that can last for your entire time at college or university (and ink is cheaper to buy if you do need to top up). So, you won't need to blow your student loan on expensive inkjet cartridges like I had to!

Our senior printer editor has extensively tested the best home printers and the best ink tank printers - and based on those reviews, I've hand-picked the 6 top cartridge-free printers for students that performed brilliantly for text and phot printing, as well as offering value for money. For each one, click View details to see our review notes and how they fit into student life.

One quick note: because printers often have different model names in the US and UK, they may appear differently here (I know, it frustrates me too). However, I've made sure the links will take you to the identical unit for your region.

My top back-to-school ink tank printers

Epson EcoTank ET-2400

Why it's good for students. It's one of the cheapest ink tank printers around, and it's the one I use on a regular basis. It's an all-in-one for printing, scanning, and copying. Print-outs are good across both text and photos, it's compact, and it's quick enough for most. For me, it ticks all the boxes for general use.

HP Smart Tank 7001

Why it's good for students. We found this HP printer printed quickly, efficiently, with good results across black-and-white and color text documents, while photos feel fresh and vibrant. It features HP's Self-Heal Wi-Fi and automatic two-sided printing.

Read our full review

Pros

• Neat design
• Bluetooth simplifies setup
• HP Smart for desktop
• Plentiful inbox ink

Cons

• Flimsy build quality
• Small display
• Feeble paper handling
• No NFC or USB Host

Canon Pixma G3270

Why it's good for students. A superb budget ink tank printer from Canon here for those that just want a reliable, compact all-in-one without worrying about unnecessary features like automatic two-sided printing, front-loading, and other terribly exciting extras like that.

Read our full review

Pros

• Cheap for a MegaTank
• Affordable ink
• Broad paper compatibility
• Lots of inbox ink

Cons

• Manual duplex only
• No front paper drawer
• Limited paper capacity
• No ADF, or USB Host port

Brother DCP-T780DW

Why it's good for students. Brother's ink tank printer delivered excellent results during our tests. It really shines when it comes to color documents and photographs, where colors popped off the page, and it showed exceptionally detailed resolution.

Read our full review

Pros

• Low running cost
• Versatile paper handling
• Detailed print quality
• Lots of inbox ink

Cons

• Small tanks and bottles
• Bottles do not re-seal
• Only 4 paper presets
• No touchscreen or fax

Epson EcoTank ET-4950

Why it's good for students. Arguably the best of the best right now for the price, we struggled to think of a similarly priced ink tank printer that offered so much ink and so many features. As you'd expect from an EcoTank, it delivered a strong performance across the board.

Read our full review

Pros

• Auto-duplex scan
• Low running cost
• 3 years' ink in the box
• User-friendly design

Cons

• No USB Host port or NFC
• No multi-purpose tray
• No Bluetooth
• Cannot scan heavy paper

Canon PIXMA G620

Why it's good for students. It might not be packed with features and it's certainly not the fastest, but for photo printing, this model from Canon excels thanks to six ink tanks offering bright, vibrant results.

Read our full review

Pros

• Six-ink color printing
• Cheap to run
• Lots of inbox ink
• Wide paper compatibility

Cons

• No auto duplex
• No main paper drawer
• Small 2-line display
• Low paper capacity

How we test printers for student life

All our printers are put through our unique standardized test, which lets us compare the speed, quality, and functionality against the others. This test covers every aspect of a student's printing needs.

To check performance, we use a uniform stack of test cards, text documents, and photos, and a range of paper sizes and types. If the manual says you can print on envelopes, labels, or t-shirts, we put that claim to the test, too. We're looking for crisp fonts and vibrant colors without smudging, smearing, or feathering.

We use a ten-page mixed text and color document to measure print speeds. We never take the manufacturer's word for this, and while they are usually accurate to be fair, we always time it ourselves. So, if you've got a deadline looming, you'll have a pretty good idea if your printer can get the print-outs in time.

Total cost and overall value are a core part of our review process. And this is specifically why we recommend ink tank printers for students. While they're a little more expensive than traditional, cartridge-based inkjets, they deliver better performance and they're cheaper to run for the duration of your course. Bottled ink is a lot more affordable than an inkjet cartridge, and with the amount you get in the box, it can last most of your time at college or university anyway.

Netflix has proved that it has a knack for producing solid original content, from Stranger Things and Squid Game to Bridgerton, but now the platform is again diversifying into new content areas — and its reputation as one of the best streaming services is starting to slip for me.

Starting on August 3, the platform will be adding video content from a number of popular online outlets including Buzzfeed, Conde Nast, and Variety, spanning topics such as lifestyle, food and drink, fashion, and entertainment. Basically, all the video series you can already find on YouTube will be coming to Netflix.

Netflix says subscribers will be able to stream “some of [their] favorite videos from around the Internet without having to leave Netflix,” as the service puts it — with videos ranging from short two-minute watches, to in-depth 20-minute content. The videos will be available to viewers in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand first.

When the new content lands on the platform, you’ll have another way to watch popular internet video series like Variety’s Lie Detector Test and Architectural Digest’s Walking Tour without having to leave the Netflix app.

The Netflix Originals graveyard is growing

Netflix axed its sci-fi series The Boroughs after just one season (Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix clearly wants to diversify beyond its usual film and TV show offerings. Recently, the service announced its Clips short-form video feed, which is clearly borrowed from TikTok and Instagram Reels. It’s also investing in video podcasts, looking to capture a slice of a market that’s already catered to by Spotify and other services.

I understand that viewing habits are shifting, but Netflix’s attempts at moving into new content feels like a Katy Perry album release, with the streaming giant trying to chase trends for the sake of keeping up appearances, when it should be focussing its time and resources on producing quality original content.

That brings me to the ‘two season problem’.

Netflix has an awful habit of pulling its original shows, even if subscribers love them, after just one or two seasons. The platform just canceled The Boroughs after one season despite it receiving rave reviews — and Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers were attached to the project, so a second season was widely expected.

According to the platform, this decision was taken due to production costs (sci-fi is expensive to produce), but somehow Netflix still manages to find enough money to pump into reality shows that receive nowhere near as much critical acclaim as its axed shows get, and which, I’d argue no one really wants.

Although spin-off show Squid Game: The Challenge climbed the Netflix charts, the roaring success of the original TV series helped it massively. But, as our streaming writer Jasmine Valentine says in her two-star review, the second season was “nowhere near as good as its first”. Between this and the pure cringe-fest that was Floor is Lava, you’d think Netflix would’ve learned its lesson — apparently not.

Compared to Netflix, Apple TV is one of the few streaming services that keeps the fire of its original shows burning (Image credit: Apple Tv Plus)

Instead, it’s continued to churn out one reality show after the next. I couldn’t make it past the first 20 minutes of Age of Attraction, and now my favorite childhood movie is about to have the magic sucked out of it thanks to a new Wonka-themed reality show.

I’m not the only one who thinks this, my colleague and streaming writer Lucy Buglass is on the same page, telling me “Netflix’s decision to host content from other platforms has been met with criticism, and there’s a good reason for that. Many beloved Netflix shows have been axed by the streaming service, and in 2024 Netflix canceled these 9 shows despite many of them performing well with both critics and audiences.

“When you compare Netflix to other streaming services, it’s shocking how quick they are to abandon their shows. Competitor Apple TV has a lot of faith in its original programming from sci-fi hit Severance, to horror comedy Widow’s Bay, and the moreish drama Margo’s Got Money Troubles. All of these shows have been renewed for new seasons in the future, which is welcome news for loyal fans.

“I’m concerned that Netflix keeps neglecting some great-quality shows in favor of hosting content we can already get elsewhere. Time and time again, TV fans are not getting a satisfying finale because storylines are cut off abruptly after being axed. This only discourages people from watching new shows if they’re going to be left on a permanent cliffhanger.”

Competing against YouTube is going to be quite a challenge for Netflix, and it makes me wonder if it'll be successful in luring more viewers in its direction. But for the time being, I wish it would just focus on quality of quantity.

Knockoff works by filtering out brands you probably don't want to buy from anyway.

The X by Xreal A01 Plus edge out the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro in my early tests, and are lighter, too.

It's nearly time for another episode of House of the Dragon season 3 to take flight. And, after last week's Rhaenyra-focused entry, you can expect to see more of the show's wider ensemble when its fourth chapter drops in a few days' time.

"But, when will that be?", I hear you ask. Fear not, dear reader, because I've sent a raven to HBO Towers to learn when the Game of Thrones prequel's next installment will air. Don't delay, then — find out below when it'll premiere where you live.

What time can I watch House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4?

House of the Dragon's next episode will debut at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Sunday, July 12 in North and South America.

There's no need for viewers in other territories to throw a Rhaenyra-style tantrum over when they can see it, either, because it'll drop everywhere else on Monday, July 13. Read on to learn the exact time that it'll arrive in your region of the world:

• US — Sunday, July 12 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, July 12 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, July13 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, July 13 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, July 13 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, July 13 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, July 13 at 1pm NZST

What channel or platform can I watch House of the Dragon season 3 on?

Did he think I would not discover it? pic.twitter.com/V6dDqp075cJuly 6, 2026

Like its predecessors, the high-fantasy series' next episode will come out on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, where it's available.

Live in a country that the Warner-owned platform is yet to come to, or don't have an active HBO Max subscription? Don't worry, there are other cable networks, streamers, and TV channels you can watch House of the Dragon 3's fourth chapter on:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

What is the full release schedule for House of the Dragon season 3?

Alicent and Rhaenyra will continue to play their own mini Dance of the Dragons in this week's episode (Image credit: Ollie Upton/HBO)

After this week's entry, we'll be midway through this season. That means only four episodes remain before the HBO TV Original departs our screens ahead of its fourth and likely final season.

Unsurprisingly, this season's remaining episodes will air every Sunday in the Americas and every Monday everywhere else — you can read the list below to remind yourself of each one's release date:

• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 — out now
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2 — out now
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 — out now
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4— July 12/13
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 — July 19/20
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 — July 26/27
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 7 — August 2/3
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 8 — August 9/10

• Ads for fake air conditioners are plaguing Facebook and YouTube
• These appliances promise high performance features and claim to be ground-breaking
• UK advertising regulator warns you should be sceptical and report them

The UK is having its share of sweltering heatwaves this summer and there’s never been a bigger demand for the best fans and air conditioners — but that's also come with a wave of fake air conditioning adverts.

Adverts for portable air conditioners allegedly ‘designed by former NASA engineers’ that can cool down a room ‘in less than 90 seconds’ are being pushed to consumers across the likes Facebook and YouTube. Portable air conditioners have been going out of stock pretty much everywhere — more recently Meaco’s Cirro lineup — so appliances from trusted brands are becoming a lot harder to come by as the UK is gripped by high temperatures

The advertised air conditioners claim to pack a punch all while having affordable prices, ranging between £70-£120 according to the BBC. Additionally, these product listings often feature fake customer reviews with overwhelmingly positive comments on performance features.

Civil engineer and content creator, Stuart Matthews, is just one online persona that’s raising awareness; “if it sounds too good to be true, it’s not ‘probably’ a scam these days, it definitely is a scam,” he shared in a YouTube video.

In one of his most recent unboxing videos, Matthews purchased one of the cheap air coolers, taking it apart bit by bit to give a closer look at the inner workings of these appliances — and they don’t work in the same way as proper air conditioners.

Here's how to spot a fake

The product he showcased was sold as a ‘mini portable air cooler’ with a small water tank that can ‘chill quite a sizable room by a number of degrees very quickly’. Once he took the machine apart, Matthews found what he described as ‘cardboard fins’ that essentially soak up water from the tank, which the fan blows air through at a very weak speed — all of which he forked out £70 for, when he thinks it’s worth no more than £5.

With high demand, users in need will often take the first appliance that’s put in front of them, giving companies more room to scam, and now the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is officially warning you. But if you’re finding it difficult to tell the difference between legitimate and misleading adverts, the regulator has issued a few tips.

As mentioned, one of the biggest things to note is the overuse of positive reviews and comments that report life-changing results, so if an advert claims a small fan can cool a room in a very short space of time, be sceptical.

Just with the advert shown in Matthews’ video, you should also be wary of lengthy backstories and bold claims, i.e. “an ingenious invention that’s disrupting the £5 billion air conditioning industry” — a bold claim for a product that no one has heard of.

Additionally, a majority of the adverts seem to be AI-generated, with inconsistencies such as spelling and grammar errors, which you should also keep an eye out for. If you think you’ve run into a fake air conditioner advert, you can file a report on the ASA website.

Google has unveiled AI transparency tags for ads.