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It's time to settle down and enjoy one or more of the new movies and TV shows that have landed on the best streaming services over the past few days.

All but one of the world's leading streamers have got something to offer this weekend – step it up, Paramount+ – so, regardless of which platform(s) you're signed up, you're well and truly spoiled when it comes to new content to watch at home. Warm up your scrolling finger, then, and read on to see what you can enjoy before Monday comes back around. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

My Oxford Year (Netflix)

Remember how One Day suddenly arrived on Netflix and instantly made us bawl our eyes out? I've got a funny feeling that My Oxford Year is going to have exactly the same effect.

One of August's new Netflix movies tells the story of ambitious American student travels to Oxford in England to fulfil her dream, but encounters a charming local who changes both their lives. I wonder if that local just happens to be tall, dark, and handsome?

Given this is also an adaptation of Julia Whelan's novel, we can pretty much guarantee My Oxford Year is going to be a slam dunk for the streamer. Cue a lot of rose-tinted whimsy, an influx of Americans on social media who think all of England is like Notting Hill, and bundles of sweet nerdy chemistry. Frankly, it's cheaper than trying to study abroad. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment writer

• Watch My Oxford Year on Netflix

Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+)

The latest Marvel project to have Ryan Coogler's award-winning creative fingerprints on it, Eyes of Wakanda has launched on Disney+ three weeks earlier than anyone expected.

A four-part anthology series that further explores the history of Wakanda, aka the technologically advanced African nation that exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this Black Panther spin-off series follows various Wakanda spy-cum-warriors across four time periods as they try to recover their nation's stolen artefacts and weaponry. Eyes of Wakanda is available in full now on Disney+, too, so you won't be made to wait a week between each 30-minute installment.

It remains to be seen if it'll earn a spot on our best Disney+ shows list. But, with Coogler attached, I'd be shocked if this gorgeous-looking animated series doesn't continue Marvel's recent hot-streak (in my opinion, anyway) on the big and small screens. – TP

• Watch Eyes of Wakanda on Disney+

Final Destination: Bloodlines (HBO Max)

I'm really enjoying these new horror installments with great reviews, aren't you? Saw X impressed the critics after years of flops and Final Destination Bloodlines, the franchise's sixth movie, did likewise earlier this year. So much so, it's now technically considered the best in the franchise.

Thankfully, the series' latest entry is now streaming on HBO Max. Get ready to be scared by, well, just about any everyday object as the franchise continues to kill its subjects in the most unexpected ways. If you want something to satisfy your bloodlust this weekend, look no further. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Final Destination: Bloodlines on HBO Max

Chief of War (Apple TV+)

I’ve always felt there aren’t nearly enough TV shows that dive into Hawaiian history, which is why I’m so glad Apple TV+ has finally stepped up.

Chief of War is a new historical drama that puts the spotlight on the Polynesian islands' powerful chiefdoms before colonization reshaped everything at the turn of the 18th century. Jason Momoa plays Ka‘iana, a warrior chief determined to unite the four Hawaiian kingdoms as Western forces loom. It's based on real events and as visually stunning as it is culturally rich.

The first two episodes are streaming now, with new episodes dropping every Friday until the finale on September 19. I’ve already got this lined up on my watchlist – and if you’re even a little curious, I’d recommend diving into this new Apple TV Original – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Chief of War on Apple TV+

Twisted Metal season 2 (Peacock)

Twisted Metal is back Peacock so, if you're in the mood for plenty of laughs and action, it's the show to watch. With a stellar cast including Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz and Captain America's Anthony Mackie leading the series, plus Will Arnett as a killer clown, there's so much to love about Twisted Metal.

If you haven't seen season 1, it's based on its video game namesake and follows a talkative milkman with amnesia who's tasked with delivering a mysterious package in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Things are quickly dialed up to 100, too. – LB

• Watch Twisted Metal season 2 on Peacock

Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful (Hulu/Disney+)

First there was Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie, then came Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé. Now, it's Miley's turn to shine, with her own music movie Something Beautiful being self-described as a "pop opera", and is now out on Hulu and Disney+. Think less Starlight Express and more chic visual movie, which is essentially a continuous music video for every track on the synonymous album.

Essentially, this one is great for singing along to the Bangerz (see what I did there?) you might have missed from Cyrus in the last year, who's been busy rebranding herself as the pop-rock icon we're learning to love all over again. Rumor has it that if you then stream the album on Spotify, you might allegedly be invited to a Hannah Montana-themed event (this isn't confirmed, but dare to dream). – JV

• Watch Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues (Prime Video)

I love a good underdog story – and Birmingham City FC’s 2024/25 season is exactly that. Like Wrexham, Birmingham has seen a huge surge in performance, popularity, and sponsorship since American-Hollywood investors came onboard – and now you can watch it all play out in Built In Birmingham: Brady & The Blues on Amazon's streaming platform..

The docuseries tracks the club’s transformation under NFL legend Tom Brady, who became a minority owner in 2023. From the heartbreak of relegation to a record-breaking season, and automatic promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship, it’s a rollercoaster worth streaming. All five episodes are now available on Prime Video. If you’re into comeback stories, this one’s a must-watch. – AS

• Watch Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues on Prime Video

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix shows, best Prime Video movies, best Hulu shows, and best Paramount+ movies.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #1285).

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 #1286) - 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 #1286) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1286) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1286) - 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 #1286) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• P

• C

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1286) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1286, are…

• WARTY
• PUPAL
• CLEAR
• SLICE

Today was a struggle, but my winning streak continues.

Knowing that the top-left word ended A-R-T-Y and having eliminated the word beginning with a T or a P, I had two possibilities left – one starting with W the other with F. Being sensible I chose WARTY, but the alternative was very tempting. 

Daily Sequence today (game #1286) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1286, are…

• ANIME
• FRUIT
• START
• DECRY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY

• Chevrolet has teased the next generation of its popular Bolt EV model
• The vehicle isn’t expected to arrive until 2027
• Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are struggling with sales

Chevrolet has taken to social media to release a number of teaser images that give some hints of what the North American public can expect of its redesigned Bolt.

The much-loved Bolt was among the first mass-produced electric vehicles to take off in the States, with early models praised for their impressive electric range, ease of use, masses of practicality and comparatively low sticker price. As a used proposition, they also represent phenomenal value for money.

That said, the Bolt could only ever manage to charge at a maximum speed of 54kW, which made longer journeys difficult. Chevy seems to have addressed this in the upcoming, 2027 version, which will be among the first General Motors vehicles to sport a NACS charging port as standard.

A post shared by chevrolet (@chevrolet)

A photo posted by on

The teaser images also reveal a sportier front fascia, redesigned taillights (a topic that bothered former owners) and a striking new alloy wheel design, with the brand stating that more details will be revealed this fall.

Back in late 2016, the original Bolt could be picked up for just under $27,000 before federal and state electric vehicle incentives, which made it one of the cheapest ways to get behind the wheel on a new EV in the USA. It is predicted that General Motors will attempt to keep prices of the new model similarly low.

Analysis: The US needs more affordable EVs

(Image credit: Chevrolet)

The news comes at a time when several other big name automakers have publicly stated that sales have been slow in North America.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has reportedly started slashing prices of its EVs to boost customer demand and will even pause deliveries of some of its EQ range to prevent dealer inventory from piling up.

Porsche has also scaled back its financial forecasts due to its exposure to President Trump’s raft of recent trade tariffs, seeing as the company exclusively manufactures its cars in Germany and ships them overseas.


The upcoming Chevrolet Bolt comes at a time when the US market desperately needs more affordable EV options, seeing as Tesla could underwhelm with its much-rumored cut-price model and the cheaper Chinese competition is yet to gain a foothold in the region.

Nissan's Leaf remains among the cheapest, but that is also due an imminent refresh, while Hyundai's small Kona Electric has also proven popular thanks to its approachable price tag.

However, many of the closest rivals still cost around $40,000, which for many buyers, is still too much.

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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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #516).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Pretty as a picture

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MATTER
• FORT
• RULER
• JADE
• REST
• LIAR

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #517) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #517) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #517, are…

• FILTER
• CROP
• BLUR
• ADJUST
• ERASE
• MARKUP
• ROTATE
• SPANGRAM: PHOTO EDITOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The very first thing I saw in today’s grid was the word PHOTO, but when it didn’t turn blue I thought we must be looking for some other art-based topic. Then I saw the word EDITOR and put the pair of words together and landed today’s spangram.

From here it was a matter of thinking of as many photo-editing words as I could and then finding them on the board. FILTER and CROP came first, as they are my two most-used tools.

All of this has reminded me that, being something of a fat-fingered snapper, the key thing I need to do with my photo library on my phone is to delete all the many shots I have of the floor, my hand or the inside of my pockets. No amount of photo editing can fix them.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, August 1, game #516)

• ADDER
• PYTHON
• COBRA
• MAMBA
• VIPER
• ANACONDA
• RATTLER
• SPANGRAM: SERPENT

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.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #782).

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 #783) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COMMERCE
• STRIKE
• CLEAVE
• FOUL
• ADHERE
• CONGRESS
• SPLIT
• STICK
• OVERSIGHT
• GLUE
• GARNISH
• RELATIONS
• SANCTION
• INTIMACY
• AFFIX
• SPARE

NYT Connections today (game #783) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Bind two things together 
• BLUE: Ten pin scoring
• GREEN: Birds and bees activity 
• PURPLE: Double meaning

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 #783) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ATTACH WITH ADHESIVE 
• BLUE: BOWLING RESULTS
• GREEN: POLITE TERMS FOR SEX 
• PURPLE: CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS)

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

NYT Connections today (game #783) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #783, are…

• YELLOW: ATTACH WITH ADHESIVE ADHERE, AFFIX, GLUE, STICK
• BLUE: BOWLING RESULTS FOUL, SPARE, SPLIT, STRIKE
• GREEN: POLITE TERMS FOR SEX COMMERCE, CONGRESS, INTIMACY, RELATIONS
• PURPLE: CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS) CLEAVE, GARNISH, OVERSIGHT, SANCTION

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

The NYT didn’t use the most obvious CONTRONYMS (WORDS THAT CAN MEAN OPPOSITE THINGS) today, in my opinion at least.

Two good ones would have been “buckle” and “fast”, which would have certainly put me in doubts over whether they belonged in the group that was about attachments.

Anyway, all of this is to mask my embarrassment over taking three guesses to get POLITE TERMS FOR SEX.

I thought that this group had something to do with international trade, so I tried including SANCTION and OVERSIGHT before swapping them out for INTIMACY.

Please tell me I wasn’t the only person that didn’t see this group!

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, August 1, game #782)

• YELLOW: APTITUDE BENT, FACULTY, FLAIR, GIFT
• GREEN: SILENT "W" PLAYWRIGHT, SWORD, WRAP, WREATH
• BLUE: LEGENDS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD DEAN, GABLE, GARLAND, TEMPLE
• PURPLE: HIT THE ____ HAY, JACKPOT, ROAD, ROOF

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.

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• Makes changes to your website using natural language
• SEO optimize your site
• Woo-commerce ready

I like WordPress. I do! What's not to like? It's free, it's used by basically everyone so there's so much help available, and it's supported by all the best web hosting providers. There is just one thing about it that I, and others, find incredibly frustrating. The page builder.

Now, thanks to Hostinger, those pains will hopefully be over because Kodee, Hostinger's AI management tool, is going to be released with direct integration with your WordPress site.

Knock Knock. Who's that? It's Kodee helping you with WordPress

I've built WordPress sites before but I'm not a website building expert covering the best website builders like my colleague Owain Williams. My area is more website infrastructure (hosting, domains, that sort of stuff) but I do occasionally have a dabble in WordPress because I want to know more about it when recommending the best WordPress hosting.

In my most recent dives into WordPress for my one hour with series, covering what it's like to buy and set up a website with web hosting providers I encountered many beginner WordPress issues after I had purchased and set up a server.

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The issue I mostly encountered was working my way around the WordPress block editor Gutenberg. Any time I wanted to remove a button from a template, modify a title, or change how a page element appeared I found myself spending 15 minutes trying to locate a button and then another ten undoing all the mess that pressing that button achieved.

Kodee promises to relieve users of these frustrations as soon WordPress users should be able to modify and edit a page just by asking Kodee to do it for them.

Kodee is not quite ready yet

(Image credit: Future)

Earlier in the year Kodee was released to be used as an AI sysadmin tool for VPS servers helping users manage their environment with natural language. For WordPress management Kodee is expected to be released in August.

When it is released Kodee will be able to add pages and posts, edit the text and layout of a page including adding new sections, replace images and content, plus manage settings, plugins, and many other site tasks.

Available on Hostinger Business and Cloud hosting plans

Kodee won't be available on Hostingers lower-end plans such as the single site plan (not available in all regions) and the Premium hosting plan. This means that you'll need to pay at least an extra 0.78$/mo for the first 38 months and then and extra 3$ a month after to use the tool if you didn't intend on buying one of the more powerful plans.

In my opinion, that's a worthy investment if like me, you're not very page builder savvy.

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Amazon MGM Studios have announced who will pen the next Bond movie, and it’s a hugely exciting proposition.

With Denis Villeneuve already set to take the director’s chair, it’s been confirmed that the script will be written by Steven Knight, the man behind Peaky Blinders, A Thousand Blows, This Town and more.

A Knight-penned Bond adventure is massively exciting, although it's worth remembering that the film is still in the very early stages – in fact we’re still waiting on the announcement on who will be donning the tuxedo in the next Bond adventure following Daniel Craig’s retirement in No Time to Die.

Bond 26: The story so far

(Image credit: MGM)

Even so, it’s great to see the franchise making positive moves forward following a tumultuous decade for 007. While Craig’s era got off to a good start with new adventures landing every few years, the departure of director Danny Boyle from the film that would go on to become No Time to Die, followed by a pandemic-induced release delay meant it was almost six years before Craig’s final mission landed in cinemas. Since then, Amazon purchased Bond’s parent studio MGM and quickly produced Road to a Million, a gameshow inspired by 007’s globe-trotting adventures.

Talk of a new film was few and far between though, with rumors surrounding cinematic universes and TV spin-offs quickly dispelled by long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. However, all that changed when in January of this year Broccoli announced that her and Wilson were stepping away from the franchise and handing full creative control to Amazon. While there was speculation that the pair had been ousted due to Amazon’s frustration with them dragging their feet on a new project, the official statement from Broccoli read: "With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects."

Following the pair’s departure, and after a few months of getting their Aston Martin in order, Amazon confirmed a 26th Bond film was starting pre-production, with Dune helmer Denis Villeneuve attached to direct and Amy Pascal set to produce alongside Harry Potter’s David Heyman.

What should we expect from Bond 26?

(Image credit: Amazon)

While we currently know nothing of what to expect from 007’s next mission, Knight’s appointment could potentially point toward a long-speculated return to the 1960s for the franchise, with the writer almost exclusively penning period pieces in recent years, with Knight’s rollicking WW2 action adventure SAS: Rogue Heroes of particular note to those wondering what his interpretation of Bond might look like.

"I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder," Knight told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on August 1, according to The HollyWood Reporter.

Despite all the recent announcements however, we’re still waiting on the big one: who will be the next James Bond? While some fan favorite choices such as Idris Elba and Dan Stevens have essentially aged out of the role in the intervening years, speculation is still rife, with the likes of James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Regé-Jean Page frequently thrown into the mix. There’s even the possibility they surprise us all and deliver a Logan-type story with a grizzled Pierce Brosnan reprising the role.

Whatever the case, while it’s a shame Broccoli and Wilson won’t be part of it, it’s great to see a Bond film moving forward, and with such exciting names attached. Although with Villeneuve set to write and direct a third Dune movie before turning his attention to 007, we could yet be in for our longest wait ever. But one thing’s for sure – James Bond will return.

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Hasan Piker likes fitness, gaming, and progressive politics, and millions of young men flock to him for his opinions. Is he the Joe Rogan of the left that Democrats are looking for? Hasan says no.

(Image credit: Courtney Theophin / NPR)

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee inspected an aid distribution center operated by the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah.

(Image credit: Leo Correa)

Stocks slumped after Trump announced tariffs on a wide range of countries. A weaker-than-expected jobs report magnified the concerns about how these import taxes would impact the economy.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)

Kicking off everything new on Netflix in August 2025 is My Oxford Year, which, luckily for us, is already available to stream. Based on the book of the same name by Julia Whelan, the new movie tells the story of Anna (Sofia Carson), an American student who travels to Oxford, England to fulfill her dreams. While there, she meets a local called Jamie (Corey Mylchreest) and a picture-perfect romance begins. Think dramatic kisses in the rain, beautiful scenery and everything else we’ve been missing since the Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill days.

This is all excellent news if you’ve been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 over the last few weeks. The love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung), Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christropher Briney) has reached ridiculous new heights, with Belly and Jeremiah set to get married, despite Jeremiah’s rancid behavior. Conrad has returned home to find this all out at his mom’s memorial ceremony, sticking by Belly while Jeremiah once again leaves her in the lurch.

While The Summer I Turned Pretty is exasperating to watch, I’m completely for switching over to My Oxford Year this month. Sure, it’s a movie rather than a TV series, but Netflix is hitting the nail on the romantic head where Prime Video is turning love into the most bizarre soap opera of the year.

Netflix’s My Oxford Year gives us the blistering romance that The Summer I Turned Pretty is missing

Listen, we know Conrad’s blind persistence and undying love for Belly is going to pay off by the end of season 3, and episode 5’s plan to shift to his perspective will likely be the turning point we’re waiting for. But boy, is it all a long and arduous slog to get there. Sometimes, we just want a romance with no hidden agenda, keeping things simple with two people meeting, falling in love and being torn apart before fate thrusts them back together again. And that’s where My Oxford Year comes in.

If you want romance, the new Netflix movie is just that in every single sense of the word. That doesn’t only extend to Anna and Jamie’s blossoming relationship – which has incredibly convincing chemistry, I must add – but also life itself. We’re looking out at the world with rose-tinted glasses, and there’s beauty everywhere we look. Subscribers can get wrapped up in all the intricate storylines and years-worth of lore that they like, but sometimes, we just need reminding of the basics.

Frankly, I’m all too happy to have a break from The Summer I Turned Pretty, even if it lasts until the final season is through. It’s summer (for those of us in the northern hemisphere at least), the nights are still light and I wanted to be whisked away in a whirlwind love affair that definitely won’t happen to me in real life. On that (and many other things), My Oxford Year wins out, and I just know my fellow Conrad-lovers will agree.

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• New Pixel Buds 2a leak shows what appears to be an updated design
• No spec details as yet, but three colors have been revealed
• Expect an official launch on August 20

We've been getting lots of leaks and rumors in the run up to the official unveiling of the Google Pixel 10 series, which is happening on Wednesday, August 20. And the latest one appears to spill key details of the latest cheap Pixel Buds that will launch alongside the phones.

The images, which appear to be renders for marketing materials, come via Android Headlines. AH says that while there's not a huge amount of detail just yet, the earbuds are called the Pixel Buds 2a and they're the successor to the Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds Google announced way back in 2021. That's a long time in headphone years, but Google tends to update its earbuds at a much more leisurely pace than its rivals.

We're hoping the new Buds 2a are more comfortable than the current A-Series. (Image credit: Android Headlines)Google Pixel Buds 2a: what we know so far

The leak says that there will be multiple color options including the Iris color shown in the renders, plus Strawberry and Fog Light. The expectation is that these new buds will deliver better sound and battery life than the existing version, which seems like a safe bet.

There were two key issues with the originals that hopefully the new Pixel Buds 2a will address: the A Series weren't the most comfortable buds for long wear, and we found the sound quality to be a bit fatiguing. Given how competitive and fast-moving the world Android-friendly entries among the best earbuds has become, I'm hoping we'll see significant improvements in both of those areas.

We're expecting to see these new earbuds alongside the other Pixel products on August 20, and they should be priced keenly: the original Pixel Buds A Series were $99 / £99 (about AU$140) when they launched, and while electronics prices have gone up significantly since then (and may go up further: I'm writing this just hours after dozens of new US import tariffs were introduced by the Trump administration) Google's going to want to keep them competitively priced.

By comparison, Apple's recently launched non-ANC AirPods (4th Gen) launched at $129 / £129 / AU$219, so if Google can match or undercut that, it seems like it's playing at the right level.

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Employees across multiple divisions agree: They can't imagine how the department will fulfill its legal obligations with roughly half its staff gone.

U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July, according to a report from the Labor Department Friday, as the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. Job gains for May and June were also revised sharply lower.

(Image credit: Mario Tama)

Medium stands out as one of the most writer-friendly platforms in our comprehensive best blogging platforms roundup. Unlike traditional blogging tools, it functions more like a social network for long-form content, where your stories can reach millions without any marketing effort.

Our reviewers have tested 140+ of the best website builders and blogging tools giving us deep insight into what makes each platform unique. What sets Medium apart for us is its focus on content over customization. You won't find the design flexibility of Wix, our top pick for 2025. But the tradeoff’s not for nothing.

Instead, Medium prioritizes discovery and engagement through its algorithm-driven feed system. The platform currently serves over 100 million monthly visitors and pays writers more than $2 million monthly through its Partner Program.

What is Medium?

Medium is essentially a hybrid between a blogging platform and a social media network, designed specifically for long-form written content. Founded by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams in 2012, it removes the technical barriers of traditional blogging by handling all the hosting, design, and infrastructure for you. You simply create an account and start writing. No coding, no theme selection, no server management required.

Think of Medium as a digital magazine where anyone can contribute articles, called "stories" in Medium's terminology. Your content appears not just on your personal profile but also gets distributed through Medium's recommendation system to readers who might be interested in your topics. This built-in audience discovery is Medium's biggest advantage. Your first article could potentially reach thousands of readers without any promotional effort on your part.

Features

Publications on Medium function like digital magazines where multiple writers can contribute content around specific themes or topics. (Image credit: Medium)

Medium's feature set reflects its philosophy of simplicity over complexity, offering just enough tools to create engaging content without overwhelming writers with options.

The platform excels at content creation and discovery features but falls short on customization and branding capabilities that business users typically need. At $5 monthly for the basic membership, Medium offers reasonable value for writers focused purely on content creation, though it can't compete with full-featured platforms for businesses requiring extensive customization.

The platform's strength lies in its community-driven features like publications, follower systems, and engagement tools that help writers build audiences organically. However, you'll miss advanced features like custom domains, detailed analytics, or ecommerce integration that competitors offer. Medium's pricing becomes more justifiable when you consider the built-in audience and monetization potential through the Partner Program, though serious bloggers may eventually outgrow these limitations.

Content editor

Medium's editor stands out for its clean, distraction-free interface that focuses entirely on writing. The editor uses a simple plus-sign system to add multimedia elements like images, videos, and code blocks, while text formatting appears when you highlight content. This approach eliminates the complexity found in traditional CMS platforms, letting you focus purely on crafting your message.

Publications system

Publications function like digital magazines where multiple writers can contribute content around specific themes or topics. You can either create your own publication or submit stories to existing ones with established audiences. This system provides an excellent way to reach targeted readers beyond your personal followers, with some publications boasting thousands of dedicated subscribers.

Partner program monetization

The Partner Program allows writers to earn money based on reading time from paying subscribers, with earnings calculated through factors like engagement, follower bonuses, and story boosts. Writers can earn anywhere from a few dollars to thousands monthly, with top performers making substantial incomes. The program requires a $5 monthly membership and at least one published story to qualify.

Social features

Medium incorporates social networking elements like following other writers, clapping for stories (similar to likes), and highlighting specific text passages for comments. These features create a more interactive experience than traditional blogs, encouraging community building and reader engagement. The platform also offers audio narration for stories, expanding accessibility for different types of content consumption.

Ease of use

You create an account, choose topics to follow, and can immediately start writing or reading. (Image credit: Medium)

Medium prioritizes simplicity above all else, making it one of the most beginner-friendly publishing platforms available. The onboarding process takes just minutes. You create an account, choose topics to follow, and can immediately start writing or reading. The interface feels more like using a word processor than managing a complex website, with all technical aspects handled automatically in the background.

The writing experience centers around Medium's elegant editor, which reveals formatting options only when needed. New paragraphs show a plus sign for adding multimedia, while highlighting text reveals options for bold, italic, headers, and links. This progressive disclosure approach prevents interface clutter while keeping powerful features accessible when you need them.

Medium's approach to publishing reflects founder Evan Williams' vision of removing friction from content creation. Unlike traditional blogging platforms that require decisions about themes, plugins, and hosting, Medium handles everything automatically. You write, hit publish, and Medium's algorithm immediately begins showing your content to potentially interested readers based on their reading history and followed topics.

The platform does have some accessibility considerations worth noting. While the clean design works well for most users, the limited customization options mean you can't adjust fonts, colors, or layouts for specific accessibility needs. However, Medium's built-in audio narration feature helps serve users who prefer listening to reading.

Pricing

The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations. (Image credit: Medium)

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Renewal rate (paid annually)

Free

$0/month

$0/month

Medium Member

$5/month

$5/month

Friend of Medium

$12.50/month

$12.50/month

Medium's pricing structure is refreshingly straightforward compared to most blogging platforms. The free tier allows unlimited publishing and reading of non-member stories, but limits you to three member-only articles monthly. A freemium approach lets you test the platform thoroughly before committing to a paid plan.

The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations. The $15 monthly "Friend of Medium" tier provides the same features but pays writers 4x more when you read their content, making it more of a supporter tier than a feature upgrade.

Unlike traditional blogging platforms, Medium has no transaction fees, hosting costs, or additional charge. The membership fee covers everything.

Customer support

Medium's customer support operates primarily through email and social media channels, with no live chat or phone support available for immediate assistance. (Image credit: Medium)

Medium's customer support operates primarily through email and social media channels, with no live chat or phone support available for immediate assistance. You can reach their support team by filling out a form at help.medium.com or contacting them directly at yourfriend@medium.com. For specific issues like complaints or feedback, they provide dedicated email addresses including trust@medium.com for platform concerns and legal@medium.com for legal matters.

The quality of customer support receives mixed reviews from users. According to customer satisfaction data on TrustPilot, Medium scores just 1.7 out of 5 stars for customer service, with most users reporting dissatisfaction with response times and issue resolution. Only 5% of customers who contacted support reported having their issues resolved on PissedConsumer, which is concerning for a platform serving millions of users. The average call time when reaching their phone line is just 1 minute, suggesting limited depth in support interactions.

Medium's support structure reflects their focus on self-service solutions rather than hands-on customer care. They maintain a comprehensive knowledge base for common questions and troubleshooting. However, this approach can frustrate users dealing with account issues, billing problems, or content disputes that require human intervention. The lack of real-time support options like live chat makes Medium less suitable for businesses requiring immediate technical assistance.

For serious publishers or businesses considering Medium, the limited support infrastructure represents a significant drawback. You'll need to rely heavily on community forums and self-help resources when problems arise. This hands-off approach works fine for casual writers but becomes problematic when dealing with monetization issues, publication management, or account security concerns that demand prompt resolution.

Alternatives

Medium occupies a unique position in the blogging landscape as a social publishing platform rather than a traditional content management system. With over 99,522 companies using Medium globally as of 2025, it holds a modest market share compared to competitors like Tumblr (72.09%) and Google Blogger (5.33%). Medium's strength lies in its built-in audience of 100 million monthly readers and its focus on content discovery over customization.

The platform works best for individual writers, thought leaders, and content creators who prioritize reaching audiences over building branded websites. It's particularly valuable for freelance writers building portfolios, startup founders establishing thought leadership, and journalists sharing insights without technical overhead. Medium's Partner Program makes it attractive for writers seeking immediate monetization opportunities based on reader engagement rather than traditional advertising models.

Medium's main competitors serve different needs across the blogging spectrum. WordPress.org dominates for users wanting complete control and customization, while platforms like Ghost cater to professional publishers seeking speed and membership features. Substack competes directly in the newsletter space, and newer platforms like Bullet.so target Notion users wanting SEO control with custom domains. Newer solutions like Wix offer more design flexibility for brand-focused creators.

For businesses requiring custom branding, SEO control, or advanced features, Medium's limitations become apparent quickly. The platform's algorithm-dependent distribution and lack of custom domains make it unsuitable for companies building long-term digital assets. However, for writers prioritizing content creation over technical management, Medium remains one of the most accessible publishing platforms available, especially when combined with its built-in monetization and discovery features.

Medium: Summary

Medium succeeds as a streamlined publishing platform that removes technical barriers between writers and their audiences. Its clean editor, built-in readership, and Partner Program monetization create an appealing package for content creators focused purely on writing. The platform's social networking features and algorithmic distribution help new writers gain exposure that would take months or years to achieve on independent blogs.

However, Medium's limitations become significant for users requiring control, customization, or long-term brand building. The lack of custom domains, limited design options, and algorithm dependency make it unsuitable for businesses or serious bloggers planning sustainable content strategies. While Medium works excellently for individual writers and thought leaders, its constraints ultimately position it as a stepping stone rather than a permanent solution for most professional content creators.

Medium review: FAQsCan I use my own domain with Medium?

Medium offers custom domain support only for publications, not individual writer profiles. This means you can connect a custom domain if you create a Medium publication, but your personal Medium profile will always use the medium.com/@username format. This limitation significantly impacts branding efforts for businesses and professional writers who want to build their own digital presence rather than relying on Medium's platform.

How much money can I make through Medium's Partner Program?

Earnings through Medium's Partner Program vary dramatically based on your content quality, audience engagement, and publishing frequency. Top writers can earn thousands of dollars monthly, while most participants make anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Your earnings depend on reading time from paying subscribers, with factors like follower bonuses and story boosts affecting your total compensation. You need a $5 monthly membership and at least one published story to qualify for the program.

Can I export my content from Medium if I decide to leave?

Medium allows you to export your stories, but the process has limitations. You can download your data through your account settings, which includes your published stories in HTML format. However, you'll lose the engagement metrics, comments, and social proof built up on the platform. The exported content also requires reformatting for use on other platforms, and you won't retain the SEO benefits or backlinks generated through Medium's domain authority.

Is Medium good for SEO?

Medium provides mixed SEO benefits due to its high domain authority but limited control over optimization. While your content benefits from Medium's strong search engine presence, you can't customize meta descriptions, URLs, or implement advanced SEO strategies. Medium automatically handles basic SEO elements like canonical tags and meta titles, but you're restricted to their format and structure. For serious SEO efforts, dedicated blogging platforms offer much better control and long-term visibility potential.

What's the difference between Medium's free and paid memberships?

Medium's free tier allows unlimited publishing and reading of non-member stories, but limits you to three member-only articles monthly. The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations of articles. The $15 monthly "Friend of Medium" tier provides the same features but pays writers 4x more when you read their content, functioning more as a supporter tier than offering additional features for your own content creation.

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