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The race to put a humanoid robot in every home is accelerating, and the $5,900 Unitree R1 robot might just sprint to the front of the pack.

Unitree unveiled the pint-sized but "powerful" android on Friday with a new YouTube video and then followed with more details on an official product page on their website.

In the video, the Unitree R1 Intelligent Companion showcases its remarkable movement skills, which include cartwheels, handstands, boxing, kickboxing moves, and even running down a hill.

The robot comes equipped with binocular vision backed by LLM image and voice identification capabilities. None of that, though, was on display in the video, which focused on movement. In fact, there's a brief message at the end of the clip that says, "Movement first, tasks as well (A diversity of movement is the foundation for completing tasks)".

(Image credit: Unitree)

Unitree is well-known for producing versatile humanoid bots. I've seen a few in person, including the tiny but agile G1 and the taller and somewhat more frightening H1. G1 lists for $16,000, and the H1 lists for $90,000. Pricing under $ 6,000 is unheard of for Unitree and humanoid offerings in general. Figure AI's Figure 02, for instance, will likely list for over $30,000.

As for what $5,900 might get you, the R1 is about four feet tall and weighs roughly 55 lbs, so it's the size of a child. It features the aforementioned binocular camera, a 4-microphone array, speakers, an 8-core CPU and GPU (no word on whose silicon, but Unitree has been partnering with Nvidia), 26 joints, and hands that look as if they may be permanently fixed into fists. There's a removable battery that promises one hour of activity.

There are, however, some significant caveats to consider. Unitree warns that the final robot may look different than what's currently on display. At the bottom of the product page are some more dire (and often confusing) warnings, including:

"Currently, the global humanoid robot industry is in the early stages of exploration. Individual users are strongly advised to thoroughly understand the limitations of humanoid robots before making a purchase."

and

"The humanoid robot has a complex structure and extremely powerful power. Users are asked to keep a sufficient safe distance between the humanoid robot and the humanoid robot. Please use with caution."

(Image credit: Unitree)

So while the Unitree R1 might be pitched as a home helper robot, it's hardly ready to be in anyone's home.

The R1's level of intelligence and autonomy, despite the built-in AI, remains a mystery. Most of the Unitree robots I've witnessed at CES have been either been remotely controlled or running through a set of previously scripted movements. To be useful in any home, they must marry all the sensors with awareness and enough intelligence to help and not harm their human owners.

Still, less than $6,000 for a robot with these advertised skills is something of a humanoid robotics breakthrough. I wonder if we can get one into the labs.

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• Foundation season 3 episode 3 reveals an unexpected alliance between two characters
• This week's entry builds on the surprise-laced final scene of its forebear
• Some of the Apple TV Original's cast have teased what's next for this unlikely dynamic

Two members of Foundation season 3's cast have lifted the lid on their characters' unexpected alliance in the Apple sci-fi series.

This season's third episode, titled 'When a Book Finds You', builds on the cliff-hanger ending of its forebear 'Shadows in the Math'. Indeed, fans of the Apple TV+ show were surprised by what they saw in season 3 episode 2's final scene, but, according to two of its stars, there could be even more shocking events to come as part of the burgeoning 'frenemy' bond between their characters.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Foundation season 3 episodes 2 and 3. Turn back now if you haven't seen them.

From enemies to allies? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The final shot of 'Shadows in the Math' reveals that this season's Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton), i.e. one of Empire's three rulers, has been secretly conversing with none other than Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). As we learn, the pair have held numerous covert holographic calls as these former foes try to find a way to work together to combat the growing threat posed by The Mule.

Dawn and Gaal have been in cahoots for a while, too. Indeed, the opening scene of 'When a Book Finds You' shows Dawn visiting the Empire's library to seek out Hari Seldon's original texts about psychohistory. He's become more curious about Seldon's scientific studies ever since he first learned about them via the Prime Radiant, i.e. the object that contains Seldon's various predictions for humanity.

Long story short: Dawn's interest in psychohistory eventually leads to a meeting with Gaal at a restaurant, which takes place three years before season 3's first episode, on the Empire's stronghold planet of Trantor. It's here where two of Foundation's primary characters tentatively agree to stay in touch, and collaborate on a plan to tackle The Mule because he poses a big threat to Empire and The Foundation. And, while Gaal has been "ready to take on" this all-consuming quest since last season, she'll need all the help she can get, including from Empire. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?

Dawn has been holding secret meetings with Gaal via holographic calls (Image credit: Apple TV+)

That doesn't mean there won't be moments of tension and mistrust between Dawn and Gaal. The Foundation and Empire have been foes for centuries at this point, and, according to Llobell and Bilton, it's not a foregone conclusion that they'll continue to get on in one of the best Apple TV+ shows' third season.

"You see them [Empire and The Foundation] trying to come together to take on The Mule," Llobell told me. "But, there's still tension. They're not sure they can trust each other – ultimately, I don't think they can.

"But, it's still incredibly satisfying to see these characters together again in the same scene [NB: Dawn and Gaal last appeared on the screen together in the season 1 premiere]," Llobell continued. "They're coming to a point where their goals align, and I'm really excited for fans to see where things go from here."

Despite agreeing to collaborate, there are still tensions between the duo (Image credit: Apple TV+)

"Previously, it's been Empire against The Foundation, but this season is more interpersonal," Bilton said.

"What's interesting about Dawn and Gaal's relationship is that there's two things going on. They're both ambassadors for their side's way of perceiving the future, so you have these ideals about how the galaxy should be shaped constantly butting heads, so their first in-person meeting becomes this cat-and-mouse game as they size up the other party.

"At the same time, you've got two young people who are trying to make an impact," Bilton added. "What does it mean to be someone with the spotlight trained on them when everything's starting to fall apart? And how can they ensure a legacy that'll endure and allow history to look back kindly upon them? So, while it's a game of poker and the relationship between them is a cagey one, a kind of friendship blossoms because they have to trust each other."

Do you think Dawn and Gaal's 'frenemy' dynamic will hold strong, or is it doomed to fail? Let me know in the comments.

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• More affordable models will be based on existing Model 3 and Model Y
• Cost-cutting will include stripped-down interiors and reduced tech
• The move is a bid to drum up sales, which have slumped in recent months

During a shareholders’ call that followed Tesla’s recent quarterly earnings announcement, Elon Musk "let the cat out of the bag" (as he put it) by stating that the much-hyped affordable Tesla will simply be a trimmed-down Model Y.

The divisive CEO didn’t go into any further detail, only that production is slated for August or September, but it is understood that the cheaper Model Y will be offered at a lower price thanks to a reduction of interior tech, the use of less expensive materials and a number of more affordable exterior flourishes.

While many sectors of the Tesla-buying community have been eagerly awaiting an all-new affordable model, which was once tipped to be a $25,000 Tesla that was rumored to be based on the Cybercab "unboxed" platform, Musk believes that making the Model Y more accessible will help buoy sales.

In the very same earnings call, Musk warned shareholders of a "few rough quarters to come", commenting on the fact that the Trump administration had removed a number of initiatives and incentives that had previously proven a rich revenue stream for the company.

These include the regulatory credits that the company sold to more polluting rivals to help offset their carbon emissions.

To compound matters, The Guardian reported that figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) revealed that sales of Tesla vehicles in Europe slumped by 33% to 110,000 in the first half of 2025, compared with 165,000 in the first half of 2024.

Elon Musk has been attempting to soften the blow to investors by stating that the company’s future lies in its Robotaxi and autonomous driving solutions, boldly claiming on the earnings call that “half of the population of the US will be covered by Tesla’s Robotaxi by the end of the year.”

This is despite the fact that his "paid-for" service is still limited to a number of select invitees, all of whom will have to share the ride with a Tesla safety operative and can only travel in a strictly geo-fenced area of Austin, Texas.

Tesla data suggests Autopilot is getting worse

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

While Elon Musk is still banging the drum for his autonomous driving systems, Tesla revealed an Autopilot safety report that suggests its camera-only autonomous driving technology has regressed in 2025.

The data highlights miles driven between crashes for Tesla vehicles with Autopilot features turned on, comparing that to the US average of miles driven between crashes.

Electrek has been reporting on this subject for years and clearly points out the many holes in Tesla’s cherry-picked data. But even when factoring in the various biases and discrepancies, the numbers clearly show that there were fewer miles driven between crashes in Q1 2025 than there were in the same quarter last year.

It is worth point out that this only relates to Autopilot, which is an inferior technology to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

But it’s still not a good look, especially when the CEO is boasting that customers will soon be able to use FSD without supervision – in other words, fully hands-off/eyes-off driving in a variety of driving conditions that very few manufacturers have managed to successfully crack.

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• For the first time ever, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 will be used in GPD's new handheld gaming PC
• Its currently AMD's most powerful mobile processor
• The GPD Win 5 is expected to be fully unveiled at Chinajoy 2025

Handheld gaming is expanding with new devices like the MSI Claw A8 and ROG Xbox Ally on the horizon, but pricing has been a significant concern for many. However, a handheld that could easily eclipse other handheld PCs has been teased – and it will likely launch with a hefty price tag.

As reported by our friends at Tom's Hardware, GPD has teased a new handheld gaming PC on X, the GPD Win 5, powered by AMD's most powerful mobile 'Strix Halo' processor, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. It's expected to be unveiled at Chinajoy 2025, which begins on August 1.

In the video (which you can find below), the GPD Win 5 is running Black Myth Wukong, and achieving up to 200 fps. Now, it's too early to make performance comparisons, as we don't know what graphics settings are enabled or if frame generation is being used (which I would assume it is).

However, we know that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 gets very close to an RTX 4070 laptop GPU in terms of performance – and that's quite possibly the best feat achieved by any AMD APU or SoC. It can run Cyberpunk 2077 at an average of 77 fps at 1440p on high graphics settings, with FSR 3 quality enabled, as highlighted in this benchmark test by AMD APU Gaming on YouTube.

Breaking news! The GPD WIN 5 is expected to make its debut at Chinajoy 2025 pic.twitter.com/G6cwqajspJJuly 24, 2025

Analysis: This niche handheld gaming PC is the only one with the right to be priced above $1,000

Don't get it twisted, this is still a handheld device, and I'd find it very hard to spend a fortune on one personally, but this GPD Win 5 is likely the only device to warrant a hefty price tag.

Its Strix Halo APU is the best gift that any portable device and even small form factor desktop PCs could ask for. The Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarks alone should be a strong indication of that, but it's just a matter of how well the processor is utilized within a handheld chassis.

With power equipped for high-level performance (TDP hitting 58W), it introduces concerns about battery life and adequate cooling in a small portable device. If it isn't a watered-down version of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 we know of, then the GPD Win 5 handheld would essentially wield the power of a gaming laptop that sits right behind an RTX 4070 model.

One thing is clear though; this will almost certainly cost a fortune, and while I've been critical of mainstream handhelds being too costly, this is a perfect fit for a niche device – and a purchase I could get behind if one wanted a handheld to last years without needing an upgrade.

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• OpenAI brings Agent mode to its Mac app
• Agent mode is accessible from the toolbar menu
• Now you can leave long tasks running in the background while you work on something else

OpenAI has added its new Agent mode to its ChatGPT macOS app, and it’s available right now, if you’re a Plus subscriber. When you use ChatGPT through the Mac app, you’ll see Agent as one of the options in the toolbar that lives under the prompt window. Select it, and now you’re in Agent mode.

OpenAI launched Agent mode, or ChatGPT Agent, as it is also called, last week, and it’s a way to combine all the power of Deep Research with the agentic properties of its previous agent, called Operator.

During the launch event, Sam Altman and co showed off several uses for Agent, such as planning big events, like a wedding, or producing a presentation based on a wide range of data it has to go off and find.

OpenAI describes ChatGPT Agent as "ChatGPT that can think and act, proactively choosing from a toolbox of agentic skills to complete tasks for you using its own computer."

(Image credit: OpenAI)Alternative access

OpenAI also makes a version of its app for Windows users, but this hasn’t had Agent mode added yet.

We have noticed that some people don’t see the new Agent icon in their toolbar on the Mac app yet.

Presumably, this will be fixed as the change rolls out, but if you are using the Mac app and you don’t see an Agent button at the bottom of your interface, then don’t worry, you can still access Agent mode.

Simply type a / and a list of options will appear, one of which is 'Agent mode'.

(Image credit: OpenAI)

The desktop app version of ChatGPT is more integrated into the operating system than simply using ChatGPT in a web browser.

For example, you can launch ChatGPT from any screen on your desktop with a keyboard shortcut. Use Option + Space on macOS or Alt + Space on Windows.

The Desktop version of the ChatGPT app also features Advanced Voice Mode, so you can chat with ChatGPT in real time using the microphone.

While we welcome the new ChatGPT Agent mode, it does open up your Mac to more vulnerabilities. This was something that the OpenAI team addressed at the launch, and Sam Altman said that there could be a new wave of threats that target AI agents who are simply trying to be helpful.

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• Hackers seen targeting misconfigured JuypterLab instances
• They host malware in polyglot files on image sharing sites
• The Koske malware mines different crypto tokens

Security researchers recently discovered a new Linux malware hiding in pictures of cute animals.

Cybersecurity experts from AquaSec recently found a piece of malware called Koske circulating around the web. It relies on polyglot files - documents that can be read and processed differently, depending on the type of program running them.

The threat actors were apparently targeting JupyterLab instances exposed to the internet, and misconfigured in a way that allows remote command execution. After finding and accessing such endpoints, the attackers would pull .JPEG files from legitimate image hosting services such as OVH images, freeimage, or postimage. The pictures were of AI-generated panda bears, innocuous at first sight.

Serbian hackers?

Through a script interpreter, the images are turned into a CPU and GPU-optimized cryptocurrency miners, using the server’s resources to generate more than 18 types of crypto tokens.

Cryptocurrency “mining” is essentially a process of supporting a blockchain network. In exchange for lending electricity, internet, and computing power to support the grid, users are given cryptocurrency tokens whose value depends on different things such as the number of users, the number of tokens in circulation, and the cost of mining.

Mining crypto this way generates relatively little profit for the attackers, some researchers said, while raking up huge costs for the victims - cloud compute power and electricity are often quite expensive.

AquaSec could not attribute the malware to a specific group definitively, but it did say that it found Serbia-based IP addresses used in the attacks, Serbian phrases in the scripts, and Slovak language in the GitHub repository hosting the miners.

In that context, the name of the malware would make some sense, since the word “Koske” in colloquial or dialectal form means “bones”.

The researchers believe that besides the image, the malware itself was written with the help of large language models (LLM) or automation frameworks.

Via BleepingComputer

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There’s no doubt that AI can offer businesses significant opportunities to enhance efficiency, unlock insights and improve their operations. However, making the leap from concept to effective execution remains a complex journey for many. Organizations are often overly optimistic about how easy AI will be to implement, but quickly find that generating real impact through scalable systems relies on more than ambition alone.

Unfortunately, all too often, promising AI initiatives remain stuck in "proof of concept purgatory", failing to move into production due to integration issues, particularly with back-end data. The truth is that AI will not succeed if the underlying processes and data are disorganized. AI thrives in environments where data is structured, connected, and easily navigable - by both machines and people. It must be embedded into workflows, not added as an afterthought. This is particularly crucial in high-stakes sectors, where the success of AI depends entirely on the quality and accessibility of information.

Beyond the basics

As automation and AI adoption accelerates, the challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI - but how to do it well. That means moving beyond the low-hanging fruit and prioritizing strategic implementation supported by data readiness and solutions that enable seamless integration.

Terms such as ‘Generative AI’, ‘Agentic AI’, ‘LLMs’ or even more broadly ‘intelligent automation’ have certainly created a buzz in recent years, but unfortunately, many implementations are falling short of their true potential. In many cases, what businesses are actually deploying are advanced chatbots or deterministic systems that don’t fully leverage AI’s potential. For example, a lot of businesses are still at the stage where they are using AI for simple tasks like content generation, speech-to-text, or at most - the automation of simple processes. Whilst using AI for tasks such as these is certainly a valuable step to support productivity and free up employees, these straightforward processes are only just scratching the surface on what AI has to offer.

What does innovative AI look like?

True AI innovation often involves handling probabilistic tasks, where uncertainty and variability in data demand more advanced AI systems to guide decisions. To drive impact from AI, it’s time for organizations to move beyond the basic applications and start thinking about how AI can augment and support human decision-making and improve outcomes across a variety of channels.

This isn’t about replacing human workers, but supporting them with real-time insights. For those in contact center roles, effectively integrated AI can provide next-best-action recommendations and contextualized guidance during customer interactions. A significant shift from traditional rule-based systems to intelligent, adaptive support that empowers teams to make faster, more accurate decisions. Moreover, by automating routine and repetitive tasks - such as identifying intent or retrieving customer history - AI can help reduce friction in the customer journey. This not only improves operational efficiency but also elevates customer satisfaction, eliminating the need for customers to repeat themselves across touchpoints.

The integration dilemma

Unfortunately, for many sectors, the biggest roadblock to impactful AI adoption comes from the complexity surrounding its integration with legacy systems. Whilst using an AI bot to automate content generation or customer service tasks is fairly straight forward, getting that system to access and interact with real customer data – such as CRM systems, product databases, or service records, can become a monumental challenge. For example, many public sector organizations have hundreds of different systems concurrently, each managing different aspects of customer service or data collection. The real challenge lies in making sure all these systems talk to each other effectively and that AI can access the relevant data from across the organisation securely.

Without seamless integration, AI cannot function optimally, and its promise of transforming business operations becomes much harder to achieve. After all, AI can only be as effective as the data it relies on. If data is disjointed or stored in silos across different systems it will struggle to deliver meaningful insights, or guide decisions effectively. To overcome this, organizations need to look at their processes and workflows holistically, ensuring data within these systems is well-organized, consistent and accessible.

This may require the reorganization of data and making bold decisions around whether the underlying, legacy technology is still right for the business’s needs. This is where process mapping is an essential starting point. Process mapping is the practice of creating a detailed map of all workflows scattered across the entire business and visualizing them to understand the direct and indirect impact one process may have on another.

From concept to impact

Shifting the dial on AI from concept to meaningful impact, requires organizations to take a pragmatic and outcome-focused approach. AI should be incorporated intelligently, and is often most successful when it augments existing systems. Platform-based AI tools which combine low-code capabilities can offer organizations a great solution to this by breaking down the barriers to development and removing the need to rip and replace solutions.

Adopting a more systematic and intelligent approach to implementation is equally as important. AI should only be applied where it clearly adds value. Gaining visibility into workflows and identifying process bottlenecks is key to this - helping to ensure AI is targeted to areas that deliver measurable improvements.

By focusing on augmentation over replacement, adopting platform-based AI tools that support integration, and aligning AI initiatives with business needs, organizations can unlock scalable, sustainable AI outcomes that go far beyond the proof-of-concept stage.

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As personalized and user-centric offerings become a necessity for modern organizations, utilizing data is a critical component to understanding customer and stakeholder needs. From public sector bodies and healthcare providers to financial institutions and software suppliers, it is now imperative for organizations to collect, store and organize data effectively.

Yet, unfortunately, many organizations are struggling to maintain clean, actionable data. In fact, a recent survey found that two-fifths (39%) of organizations have little to no data governance frameworks1. Years of inconsistent data practices and working in silos have left many departments with ‘dirty’, inadequate data that cannot be actioned.

This ongoing lack of effective data governance has resulted in organizations missing the valuable insights that would otherwise help them become better service providers.

Organizations, across sectors, as well as public sector bodies, urgently need to take decisive action to mitigate against any further damage their current data collecting practices may be having. In addition, they must instill values that make data governance a priority. This would ensure the information they collect, and store, is not only clean but also actionable.

How has this happened?

The manifestation of ‘dirty’, disorganized, data stems from a multitude of factors. From collecting duplicate and incomplete records to a lack of integration, too many organizations have unfortunately failed to manage data effectively. According to 2024 research, 44% of financial firms struggle to manage data stored across multiple locations2. This has hit their bottom line, with many incurring inflated costs. However, where, and how data is stored is not the only problem.

In organizations where data governance remains a concern, data is often fragmented and inconsistent across departments. Instead of having integrated systems that deliver a single, dependable, database, teams are working in data silos. For instance, separate sales and marketing teams at a digital bank may want to reach out to the same customers, or prospects, but have their own isolated data sets. In a borough council, the social housing and waste collection teams may need to contact the same residents, yet they do not share their citizens’ records.

This disjointed approach causes ‘dirty’ data that is not only difficult to use because the information is incorrect but also challenging to clean and then maintain. What’s more, ‘dirty’ data leads to conflicting insights, impacting decision-making, customer experience and overall business efficiency.

Commercial organizations risk falling behind competitors who can adjust their product lines in accordance with customer and market demands. Meanwhile, public sector bodies may not be delivering crucial services to the right citizens.

Who is responsible for ‘dirty’ data?

Poor data management comes in many forms, but perhaps the most prominent reason for ‘dirty’ data revolves around ownership. While many heads of departments perceive data governance as a responsibility of an organization's IT team, it is their department colleagues who actually use data on a day-to-day basis. An IT team can offer support by ensuring software and systems are working properly, but they are not the ones utilizing information to interact with customers and stakeholders.

After all, it is the departments, such as finance, sales and marketing, that need customer and stakeholder engagement to succeed and that benefit from clean, actionable data. The same can be said for local authorities. For example, the social care and education teams need clean data to ensure they can identify the residents that qualify for their services. With this in mind, it is then reasonable to suggest that the prime beneficiaries of clean data should be the ones managing it. Fostering a culture of data responsibility, driven by a desire to create a single view of customer or citizen information, while investing in staff training, is the first step to resolving the human aspect of effective data governance.

Keeping data clean

The technical aspect involves adopting appropriate solutions to help with the initial clean up and then maintaining data accuracy. While having the right intentions is fundamental to establishing effective data governance, introducing appropriate technology allows departments to put their drive for change into practice.

The sheer volume of data that organizations need to collect, store and process has led to legacy, or rules-based, software being no longer fit for purpose. Instead, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, have been developed to notice patterns and inconsistencies in data. Newer tools can handle larger volumes, so they are deployed to irradicate data duplication and are even at the stage to offer predictive data modelling.

These technologies maintain clean data and support the generation of actionable insights so organizations can accommodate customers’ and/or citizens’ present and future needs. Successful adoption will happen gradually but once this is achieved, automated data cleansing will boost productivity. By automating the manual processes that eroded people’s time, organizations can empower humans to prioritize and fulfil the tasks they do best.

Benefit from actionable insights

The responsibility for data governance cannot rest solely with IT teams. It must be a shared priority across departments, where those who rely most on data take an active role in ensuring its quality.

The benefits of clean data go beyond having the easily accessible information that is always in the right place, at the right time. Breaking down data silos allows better cohesion and collaboration, which then in turn helps deliver actionable insights. From personalized marketing campaigns and optimizing supply chains to issuing council tax bills and allocating social care budgets, clean data allows organizations to run more efficiently.

By investing in both technology, such as AI-powered automation tools, and a more responsible, and proactive, culture, companies can develop robust data management practices. Ultimately, the organizations that thrive will be those that treat data not as a by-product, but as a strategic asset.

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• A bug in MiVoice MX-ONE granted admin access
• A vulnerability in MiCollab allows arbitrary command execution
• Patches were released for both, so users should update now

Mitel Networks has patched two important vulnerabilities in its products that could be abused to gain admin access and deploy malicious code on compromised endpoints.

In a security advisory, Mitel said it discovered a critical-severity authentication bypass flaw in MiVoice MX-ONE, its enterprise-grade Unified Communications & Collaboration (UCC) platform. MX-ONE is designed to scale from hundreds to over 100,000 users in a single distributed or centralized SIP-based system, and supports both on‑premises and private/public cloud deployments.

An improper access control weakness was discovered in the Provisioning Manager component, which could allow threat actors to gain admin access without victim interaction.

Patches released

At press time, the bug has not yet been assigned a CVE, but it was given a 9.4/10 (critical) severity score.

It affects versions 7.3 (7.3.0.0.50) to 7.8 SP1 (7.8.1.0.14), and was addressed in versions 7.8 (MXO-15711_78SP0) and 7.8 SP1 (MXO-15711_78SP1).

"Do not expose the MX-ONE services directly to the public internet. Ensure that the MX-ONE system is deployed within a trusted network. The risk may be mitigated by restricting access to the Provisioning Manager service," Mitel said in the advisory.

The second flaw it fixed is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability found in MiCollab, the company’s collaboration platform. It is tracked as CVE-2025-52914, and allows threat actors to execute arbitrary SQL database commands.

The good news is that there is still no evidence that these two flaws have been abused in the wild, so it’s safe to assume no threat actors found it yet.

However, many cybercriminals simply wait for the news of a vulnerability to break, betting that many organizations fail to patch their systems on time.

While this somewhat reduces the number of potential victims, it makes compromising the remaining ones a lot easier, and that number is often still high enough to give the threat actors incentive.

Via BleepingComputer

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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, July 25 (game #775).

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 #776) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LUXE
• TREK
• BOTTLE
• WARS
• COPE
• ANISE
• SARA
• KELLY
• SAGE
• MARCH
• HUNTER
• MACE
• HIKE
• PEA
• DILL
• TRAMP

NYT Connections today (game #776) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Add flavor
• GREEN: Grassy hues
• BLUE: Long walks 
• PURPLE: Add more to make a city

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 #776) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: HERBS AND SPICES 
• GREEN: SHADES OF GREEN 
• BLUE: TRAVEL ON FOOT 
• PURPLE: STARTS OF EUROPEAN CAPITALS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #776) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #776, are…

• YELLOW: HERBS AND SPICES ANISE, DILL, MACE, SAGE
• GREEN: SHADES OF GREEN BOTTLE, HUNTER, KELLY, PEA
• BLUE: TRAVEL ON FOOT HIKE, MARCH, TRAMP, TREK
• PURPLE: STARTS OF EUROPEAN CAPITALS COPE, LUXE, SARA, WARS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

As someone who likes a good HIKE up a hillside, I’m very familiar with the many alternative ways to describe a long walk – or TRAVEL ON FOOT, as Connections puts it.

If I want to tempt a companion to join me, I’ll use the word TREK, with its implications of adventure if they’re more sporty than me (99% of people) and I’ll ask if they fancy a meander if they’re slower (1% of people). I can’t imagine who I’d ask about going for a TRAMP, though.

HERBS AND SPICES was equally easy, but that’s where my fun ended.

With eight words left I was clueless. The only link I could make was PEA green and BOTTLE green and after a couple of errors managed to form a group.

Even with the purple group completed for me it took a Google before I realised SARA was for Sarajevo and LUXE for the capital of Luxembourg, also called Luxembourg.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, July 25, game #775)

• YELLOW: HUSH-HUSH MUM, PRIVATE, QUIET, SECRET
• GREEN: STATE ABBREVIATIONS IN, MA, OH, OK
• BLUE: BASEBALL CALLS BALL, FAIR, FOUL, OUT
• PURPLE: QUEEN __ BED, BEE, MARY, MOTHER

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new 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, July 25 (game #1278).

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 #1279) - 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 #1279) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1279) - 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 #1279) - 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 #1279) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• S

• K

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1279) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1279, are…

• MUDDY
• SAINT
• KINKY
• POLAR

It’s not often that we get a game without the letter E. Maybe that is why I struggled today and only just made it home.

Usually a lack of options helps me complete Quordle – it’s just a case of finding the one word that will fit. But today I had five or six choices for what became KINKY. Hope it was easier for you.

Daily Sequence today (game #1279) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1279, are…

• INTRO
• EVENT
• MISER
• GLEAN

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE

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, July 25 (game #509).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's been a while

NYT Strands today (game #510) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• UNITE
• SCONE
• SMART
• MUST
• THEN
• COVE

NYT Strands today (game #510) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #510) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #510) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #510, are…

• ASSEMBLE
• CONVENE
• GATHER
• MEET
• MUSTER
• CONGREGATE
• SPANGRAM: REUNION

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

The very first thing I saw in today’s search was the spangram. Actually, that’s not completely true; the first word I saw was union, then I spotted the re and joined the dots.

After this it was a case of a puzzle of two halves, as I solved the top section first before tackling the lower half. 

After getting ASSEMBLE, CONVENE and GATHER, I was convinced that CONGREGATE would feature somewhere, but despite it being the longest word in the game and despite the limited space I had left I still struggled to put it together – testament to the genius of Strands. Or perhaps my lack of genius. 

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, July 25, game #509)

• MUSIC
• COSTUME
• RECITAL
• TEACHER
• CHOREOGRAPHY
• SPANGRAM: DANCE CLASS

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.

Who's ready for another packed line-up of new movies and TV shows? Whether you'll be seeing the final Marvel movie of 2025 – The Fantastic Four: First Steps – in a theater near you, or plan on watching something at home instead, I bet you answered "me!" to that question.

So, what's out this week? For one, a couple of heavy hitters on Netflix, but there's plenty to enjoy on more of the world's best streaming services, too. You better get your skates on, then, and continue scrolling to learn more. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)

Adam Sandler is about to tee off again as Happy Gilmore, a hockey player turned golfer. It's been almost 30 years since the original film and I'm looking forward to seeing him back on our screens.

The pressure is on, of course, as Happy Gilmore 2's predecessor will be a tough act to follow. But, with returning cast members like Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller as well as newcomers like The Substance's Margaret Qualley, I have high hopes.

Will this make it onto our esteemed best Netflix movies list or be another disappointing sequel? We'll have to hope this isn't a swing and a miss. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix

The Phoenician Scheme (Peacock)

If you've got an appetite for symmetry, quirky vibes, and another Bill Murray collab, Wes Anderson is back with his latest big-screen flick that's out now on Peacock.

The Phoenician Scheme holds a 78% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes which means it's another of Anderson's myriad films that's worth watching. This movie follows the daughter of a wealthy businessman who becomes the sole heir to his estate. She soon becomes the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins, resulting in a solid espionage comedy. – LB

• Watch The Phoenician Scheme on Peacock

The Sandman season 2 volume 2 (Netflix)

It's the end of the road for Dream/Morpheus in The Sandman, with Netflix calling time on its live-action adaptation of controversial author Neil Gaiman's graphic novel namesake. Indeed, the second half of The Sandman season 2, which brings the high-fantasy series to an unceremonious conclusion, is out now on the streaming titan.

As I said when the final season's first volume arrived a few weeks ago, I won't be tuning in to see how it wraps things up because of the numerous allegations made against Gaiman over the past 12 months. Still, with the show featuring in Netflix's in-house TV charts since its return, there are people who are watching it and will want to know how it ends. For that reason alone, The Sandman 2 takes a spot on this week's streaming list. – TP

• Watch The Sandman season 2 volume 2 on Netflix

Washington Black (Hulu/Disney+)

Washington Black, which is out now on Hulu and on Disney+, gives us a globe-trotting and sort-of time-hopping adventure that takes us from Barbados in 1829 to Nova Scotia in 1837.

An adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s Booker-shortlisted novel namesake, it follows the eponymous character whose story begins enslaved on a brutal sugar cane plantation. However, he soon takes flight – literally – as he escapes with an eccentric inventor, journeys aboard a swashbuckling pirate ship, and discovers a life of science and freedom.

This series looks to have everything you could want from one of the best Hulu shows: a coming-of-age adventure shaped by overcoming adversity, eccentric characters, and a grand narrative that spans continents. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Washington Black on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Death of a Unicorn (HBO Max)

Richard E. Grant as a kitschy camp villain is like managing to find an ice cream truck on the hottest day of the year. You know it's going to be bad for your health, but you can't just help gorging on its deliciousness. There's every reason we shouldn't be rooting for him in A24's Death of a Unicorn (or most of the people in this cast), which is now on HBO Max, but he's just so darn good as a malevolent rich man with an agenda.

The Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega-led flick is an absolutely wild beast of a movie (it's RT scores will say otherwise, though) that makes us laugh inappropriately while terrible people are getting their skin flayed by deadly unicorns. It's a unique perspective to have such a far-fetched moral dilemma (keep unicorns alive or harvest a cure for cancer), and the volatility of how it plays out never fails to have me on the edge of my seat. One to add to our best HBO Max movies guide? – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment writer

• Watch Death of a Unicorn on HBO Max

Acapulco season 4 (Apple TV+)

Two time-jumping series in one week? Aren’t we lucky. The critically-acclaimed Apple TV+ show Acapulco that uses flashbacks to tell its story has returned for its fourth and final season.

This time, it follows pool boy turned resort manager Máximo, played by executive producer Eugenio Derbez (CODA), as he restores the hotel Las Colinas to its former glory before the big grand reopening. As usual, we'll also see how the working class hotel owner achieved such a feat with flashbacks to 1986.

Inspired by the film How to Be a Latin Lover, Acapulco has made a name for itself as one of the best Apple TV+ shows for its heartfelt tale about an ambitious businessman's dream and how he made it reality. – AS

• Watch Acapulco season 4 on Apple TV+

Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War (Prime Video)

Listen, if there's a documentary about some sort of fanatical teen mania, I'm there. Prime Video's Shiny Happy People is back with another season, this one being titled A Teenage Holy War that looks at America's largest evangelical youth organization founded by Ron Luce in the 1990s. Amazingly, the combination of religion, psychological warfare, and political agendas are still having an effect today, meaning we've got four meaty episodes of prolonged chaos to binge.

These types of fundamentalist Christian movements were created in the 1990s and 2000s to try and get young'uns on board with a blend of pop culture and youth ministry. It's less cringey concerts with a Jesus theme, though, and more high-energy Christian rock that makes its teen fans endlessly sob. To top it all off, there's messages promoting abstinence until marriage thrown in for good measure. Essentially, this Amazon docuseries is a smorgasbord of ideologies from start to finish - JV

• Watch Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War on Prime Video

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

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen: Two-minute review

I've been wanting Bose to lighten up a bit for years where its earbuds are concerned and with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, the usually oh-so-serious audio heavyweight got the memo. Would you look at that 'Deep Plum' hue?

When setting up the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen (try saying that three times in quick succession after 5:30pm) you're prompted to rename them if you'd like – and someone on Bose's payroll clearly had a jolly old time coming up with cheeky suggestions such as "Cherry Wine", "Burgundy Buds" or "Sonic Sangria". You love to see it. (They're also available in black and white, naturally.)

But that's far from the end of the fun times where this particular Bose vintage is concerned. These buds are the most sonically exuberant listen I've heard to date in this type of form factor, a fact only enhanced by their rock-solid, near-impenetrable active noise cancellation (ANC), which you can usefully tweak on a slider when creating Bose's hugely successful 'Modes' (more on that later).

This time around, you also get wireless charging from the box and multi-point connectivity that works seamlessly, something the original Ultras bizarrely lacked on their release. Some of the best earbuds on the market then? Oh absolutely.

But not everyone will be wholly happy with the update. If you were expecting a complete design overhaul from the inaugural late-2023 Ultras (which were not too dissimilar in design to the September 2022-issue QuietComfort Earbuds 2), you're still not getting that.

My colleague in Australia, Sharmishta Sarkar has been waiting for a rework there for some time now – and to be clear, she means an alternative to wedging the buds in with stability bands because these silicone accessories eventually wear out (even though a total of three, in different sizes and separate from the interchangeable tips, has been provided in the box). Anyone who wanted Bose to take its smaller QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 design and Ultra-fy it for 2025 (are you out there?) will also be disappointed.

I am not disappointed. The ovoid nozzle actually slips happily into my bijou ear canal and serves up exciting, expansive audio that nixes more low-level constant noise than anything else I've tested on the market. And with the (admittedly incremental, but still welcome) upgrades Bose has given me in the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen, I'll be thoroughly recommending them to anyone who'll let me for some time.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released on June 12, 2025
• Priced $299 / £299 / AU$450
• Available in black, off-white and 'deep plum' (pictured)

Key things to note here: they're newe,r and while they're not cheaper, they're also not more expensive than what's gone before them. Bose has generously carried over the original Ultra Earbuds' 2023 launch price (which was the same as the prices listed above) to 2025 and ignored inflation, although you can now find the older set for nearer $220 / £199 / AU$399.

Why mention this? Because if the deep plum limited colorway and wireless charging as standard don't matter to you, you might think the smart money goes on the older set. I actually disagree, as you'll see, but there's definitely a case to be made for it…

In terms of direct competition, your rivals at the level are of course AirPods Pro 2 which can be yours for around $50 / £70 less than the Bose (though often drop to being much cheaper), the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (which are pricier, at $399 / £349 / AU$599), or the Technics EAH-AZ100 which are virtually the same price as the Bose depending on where you live, at $299 / £259 / AU$478.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Specs

Drivers

9.3mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes, plus Immersive audio and 'Modes'

Battery life

6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total)

Weight

7.7g per bud

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IPX4

(Image credit: Future)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Features

• Up to 24 hours of battery (up to 6 from the buds)
• Excellent and useful Modes options
• Option to switch off on-ear controls

Via a few clicks within the Bose companion app, Bose has added (drumroll)… the ability to switch off on-ear controls with this iteration. Why you'd want to switch off the capacity to scroll through your listening modes (you can customize the long-press function too, if you'd rather use it to switch source devices manually, access your voice assistant or deploy a hotline to Spotify), stroke the stem to alter volume or tap to pause and play your tracks is strange to me – but if you want to, you can now. And you couldn't before.

Now: Modes. It's not new, but I was a huge fan of the feature in the original Ultra Earbuds and I still love it now. What are these Modes? Essentially, you can combine however much of Bose's excellent ANC or ambient passthrough you want on a slider – although take note, the solo slider starts at full transparency or awareness and goes through to maximum ANC – along with Immersive Audio.

You can pick whether you want Immersive Audio on or off, 'Still' (so you can move your head around your source device and feel the different sounds being piped into each ear accordingly) or in 'Motion' (which means that whichever way you turn your head, the three-dimensional immersive soundstage will not change).

There are three presets from the box: Quiet (max ANC, Immersive Audio off); Aware (max Ambient passthrough, Immersive Audio off); and Immersion (max ANC, Immersive Audio set to 'Motion'). I created a fourth preset: Work. Here, I set ANC to 75% and select 'Still' under Immersive Audio. This way, all but the most important noises are gone at my desk, and said desk is my fixed audio source – so I'm less tempted to leave it!

The thing is, if these profiles didn't do exactly what they promised to do, you'd say they were surplus to requirements. But because they genuinely enhance the listening experience better than any similar solutions currently offered by rivals (for me, it's better than JBL Spatial Sound, for example), they're emphatically worth using and celebrating.

On the ANC, Bose says there are new AI algorithms included this time, for better filtering of sudden noise spikes via its ActiveSense system. What I can tell you is that I've never heard more effective ANC in a set of noise-cancelling earbuds. Better than the outgoing model? Yes. I even missed my own doorbell while testing (which meant an extra journey to collect my next review product) – and my music was not loud.

Image 1 of 4

Not to hammer the point home, but from a design perspective, there's a new wax guard and… not much else, to differentiate the original QCUE (left) from the QCUE 2 (right) (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

It's not all great news: your Bluetooth version is still 5.3 (when 6.0 now exists) and although you get Snapdragon Sound again, which means aptX Adaptive is on the menu as well as aptX Lossless, you've still got to be using an Android non-Samsung device with a compatible Qualcomm chip (see our aptX explainer for more on that tricky business).

None of that is Bose's fault, of course, but it is a roundabout way of saying that LDAC would've been a great addition this time around – especially when cheaper options such as the Nothing Ear (a) proudly offer it.

Also, the three-tab EQ graph is relatively basic compared to some flagship options and there are no listening tests to augment certain frequencies to create your own 'Personi-Fi' type profile – which is a feature of the JBL Live Beam 3, for example.

However, that doesn't mean there's no sonic tailoring whatsoever in the QCUE 2 – just that you might not be aware of it. CustomTune is a feature that actually made its debut in the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but it's worth noting nonetheless, because I think it's a big part of what makes the sound and ANC so effective.

Basically, that thwomph sound in each ear when you put them on? It's not performative. What's happening is that this test sound travels through your ear's unique canals, bounces back to the buds nestled within them and is picked up by the microphones.

Then, Bose's CustomTune tech gets to work, potentially amplifying some frequencies while pulling back a touch others, depending on the architecture of your auricles. It's just that you don't take an active part in this test, in the way you do with lengthier tests offered by the Nothing Ear, for example.

Battery life? It's fine, but not exceptional. In my tests, I managed to get the promised six hours from them with my 'Work' mode deployed, but not a minute more – and that's largely because I found (unlike many rivals) they're able to play relatively loud and I was able to listen at just under 45% volume at my desk.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Note the stabilizer fins and separate tips (Image credit: Future)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Sound quality

• Loud, zealous, crisp and expansive audio
• Excellent across the whole frequency range
• Immersive Audio is beautifully handled

Let's take the excellent ANC performance as read (scroll back if you missed that). Sonically, the QCUE 2nd Gen are also a rare treat across the frequencies, with a layered and expansive soundstage that allows bass registers ample space to rumble and clack, midrange vocals and instruments to sound textured and fully realized, and treble trills to soar unaffected above it all.

If you love a considered hip-hop album (and I really do) you'll find much to celebrate here. I cue up OutKast's Stankonia and through the Bose buds Gasoline Dreams is an emotive romp filled with guitar kerrangs, drum fills and sonic articles lesser earbuds cannot unearth. Big Boi sounds extra indignant; Andre 3000's playful Georgian twang is just that bit more noticeable.

Switching to Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon (thank you, Ozzy), the complex layers of laughter, driving guitars and bass are faithfully captured and held dutifully in a cohesive but energetic mix – and when that guitar glances from left to right through the soundstages, it whooshes past each ear like a Tokyo bullet train.

For detail, they're also very good, and while there will always be that old argument about integrated, neutral hi-fi sound versus fun and excitement, for me, Bose has absolutely aced the sonic treatment here.

For detail and neutrality, you'll get just a little more from the aforementioned Technics EAH-AZ100, but for bass impact and zeal, the Bose buds take it. And there's so little in it this time around, I cannot dock any stars.

• Sound quality: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Design

• Excellent mics for call-handling
• On-ear touch controls work very well
• Winning 'deep plum' finish

As mentioned (and pictured), the earbuds and case are extremely similar to the older model in terms of size, shape and driver array. What I didn't mention before is that there is a small difference to the build, and it's the addition of something Bose calls an embedded ear wax guard, to prevent any of the stuff produced naturally by our ears (let's not be weird; a healthy body creates ear wax) finding its way beyond the casework and into the driver housings.

I cannot say I had this issue with the older set, but having seen a few Reddit threads that mention it, it's a sensible addition from Bose.

Bose also promises improved voice pickup from the four mics per bud and thus improved call quality this time around, and I think the company has made good on that claim. It was a sore point in the older set, and this time callers felt I sounded much clearer and more present.

You can also tweak how much of your own voice you'd like to hear in the app (something rival Technics calls 'Sidetone') and it is beneficial if you prefer to hear a little more of your dulcet tones in calls, to avoid shouting at your recipient.

In the Bose app, there's a fit test to work out whether you've got the correct tips and fins fitted, and although it's quick and relatively rudimentary (I passed first time with the pre-fitted options, no issue) I did find the buds secure and comfortable during my testing.

Basically, if you've liked the fit of Bose's flagship earbuds to date, it's more of the same here. OK, in today's money the charging case could be considered a touch on the large side. For me it's no biggie, since its flat underside means it sits happily in my hand and in my bag without issue.

• Design score: 5/5

(Image credit: Bose)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: value

• Simply the best ANC earbuds on the market
• …but not the cheapest

Value is an odd thing to quantify here, since it really is horses for courses. I keep coming back to this: there will be those out there who simply want the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, that also do great things with their music. This is that pair of earbuds.

No, they're possibly not the absolute best earbuds for small ears (although to clarify: I had no issue with fallouts and I have bijou ears, but they do protrude more than rivals) nor do they ask you various questions about what you're hearing and when you stop hearing certain frequencies to create sound profiles.

If you want to take an active part in augmentation, you'll be better served by AirPods Pro 2 or Nothing Ear. That said, not everyone wants this – and for me, the overall sound quality here is so good I wouldn't touch it anyway.

• Value: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Excellent ANC and now, wireless charging. Every perk is class-leading

4.5/5

Sound quality

Immersive audio is wildly fun and engaging but even with all profiles off, the sound is zealous and powerful

5/5

Design

A case of 'it wasn't broken, so we didn't fix it' but the added wax guard is a nice touch

4.5/5

Value

Simply the best earbuds for ANC on the market – and that's worth paying for

5/5

Buy them if…

You need class-leading ANC in earbuds
I've never heard bubble-of-silence noise cancellation in earbuds quite like it – no, not even in the older set.

You like immersive, head-tracked audio
With Bose's earbuds, you get to choose whether you want your own personal surround-sound performance fixed or moving, and in conjunction with whatever level of ANC you want.

You like vivacious, dynamic, pro-active audio
Want your grime tracks with a thumping bassline? Bose can give it to you and then some. If I had to use just one word to describe the audio performance here, I'd go with 'powerful'.

Don’t buy them if…

You've already got the Ultras
If wireless charging doesn't matter to you, you're not fully sold on the new color, the incremental upgrade in the inaugural set's very good ANC isn't a deal-breaker and, er, wax buildup has never been an issue for you, you might give this update a miss.

You prioritise stamina
The battery life here isn't terrible exactly, but compared to certain rivals, it can certainly be bettered – the Technics EAH-AZ100 lasted a lot longer on a single charge, for example.

You want LDAC
No dice here, friend. If you need Sony's higher-resolution Bluetooth audio codec, look to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Technics EAH-AZ100

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Drivers

10mm

10mm free-edge dynamic

10mm Neodymium dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life

6 hours (earbuds, ANC off; 4 hours with it on) case not specified

12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 17 hours (charging case)

11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case

Weight

7.7g per bud

5.9g per bud

4.7g per earbud

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless / Adaptive

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and LC3 compatibility

5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless

Waterproofing

IPX4 earbuds only

IPX4 earbuds only

IPX5 earbuds only

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Cambridge Audio also offers an excellent listen in its latest earbuds with good ANC. No immersive audio profiles (Cambridge doesn't believe in tinkering with recorded music in that way) but if it's an integrated hi-fi listen you seek, add them to your list – and they'll last longer than the Bose option. Read more in our Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review.

Technics EAH-AZ100
Another option with better stamina that also offers excellent sound quality and decent noise cancellation. Here, you even get multi-point to three devices (rather than the standard two) though, and the classy finish makes them nothing short of a joy to own. Get the full picture in our Technics EAH-AZ100 review.

How I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested at home, walking along a crowded beach and on a packed train

I used the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen for two weeks when writing this review, and my testing involved listening to music, podcasts and watching streamed movies from various devices – including Android and Apple sources.

I listened at home when working and taking calls, during several beach-combing walks and on a busy commuter train – and let me tell you, with these as my musical companion, it was no hardship.

I've been testing audio products full-time since 2019, firstly over at our sister publication What Hi-Fi? as a staff writer (locked in our hi-fi testing facility for two years, I was), then as senior writer at TechRadar and, since early 2024, audio editor. My background as a professional dancer is what drives me to search for faithful timing, precision, clarity and good old fashioned fun in recorded music.

• First reviewed in July 2025.

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee
• Learn more specifically about how we test earbuds at TechRadar

San Diego Comic Con 2025 has confirmed a new spinoff series from the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe will air on Nickelodeon then stream on Paramount+ in 2027, called Avatar: Seven Havens. As of writing, we’ve got three Avatar: The Last Airbender related projects in the works. On top of the new spinoff, there’s seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix’s live action Avatar: The Last Airbender and standalone movie The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, both due to be released in 2026.

In Avatar: Seven Havens, we get to relive the glory of the original 2005 animation all over again, with a new young Earthbender who discovers she is the next Avatar after Korra, who was first introduced in The Legend of Korra. Original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are also returning for the project, which will split its 26 episodes across two seasons. To top it all off, the first-look image confirms that the series is sticking to the classic 2D animation style that made it so popular in the first place.

So far, so good. Avatar: Seven Havens isn’t putting a step wrong, and that should send alarm bells ringing at Netflix HQ. It’s fair to say the reviews for season 1 of their Avatar adaptation were mixed at best, but with hype dying down before Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 even comes out, it’s Paramount+’s time to shine.

Avatar: Seven Havens is already running rings around Netflix’s The Last Airbender remake

While I love rewatching the original cartoon whenever I can, I don’t think I’ll ever watch Netflix’s version of Avatar: The Last Airbender again. The heart was completely missing, the chemistry between its bulging ensemble cast was barely there, and the storyline was incredibly ropey in too many season lulls, despite the visuals largely holding strong. As far as we’re aware, season 2 is still in production, but Netflix is now set to be second-best to Seven Havens unless it gets its act together in the next two years.

Sure, it’s not M. Night Shyamalan levels of awful (lest we forget his 2010 movie version), but why would fans not invest in an extension of the original animation instead? Seven Havens appears committed to elevating Aang’s story to align with what’s going on in 2025 society already feels second to none.

Here’s the full plot: “Set in a world shattered by a devastating cataclysm. A young Earthbender discovers she’s the new Avatar after Korra – but in this dangerous era, that title marks her as humanity’s destroyer, not its savior. Hunted by both human and spirit enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover their mysterious origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization’s last strongholds collapse.”

If Seven Havens is as full of wonder, whimsy, and meaning as it’s promising, then we could well see Netflix's Avatar viewership dwindle. Frankly, I’ll be one of the fans who’s more than happy to jump ship… it’s been a long time since the journey to becoming the Avatar has filled our cup like it should.

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New Prime Video movie War of the Worlds is coming to the streaming service on July 30, and out of everything new on Prime Video in July 2025, this just might be the most bizarre. I’m talking about the same ‘War of the Worlds’ as H.G. Wells’ epic sci-fi novel, and later the 1978 Jeff Wayne musical with the giant spider robot now synonymous with the IP. There was even a 2005 movie with Tom Cruise, which looked much more like the traditional action movie we’d expect.

Here’s what we know about the 2025 version: The movie will follow Will Radford (Ice Cube), a top cyber-security analyst for Homeland Security, who “spends his days tracking potential threats to national security through a mass surveillance program, until an attack by an unknown entity leads him to question whether the government is hiding something from him … and the rest of the world.”

With the tagline “your data is deadly,” this lesson in an unmanageable digital footprint is about to hit us in the face with all the tact of a mandatory school assembly. The more I watch the War of the Worlds trailer – and trust me, I can’t stop – the more I’m dumbfounded that this is what our collective creativity has come to. Is the new Prime Video movie going to set the world on fire? Probably not, and that’s bad news for Gen Z.

New Prime Video movie War of the Worlds is really just Ice Cube fighting aliens on Zoom

Culturally, we love to find someone to blame. For example, if things significantly change in a well-known franchise, fans are likely to blame certain audiences or social demographics as the reason why. As far as Prime Video’s War of the Worlds is concerned, it looks like a cheap ploy to make the once complex lore of a science-fiction classic more palatable to younger viewers. Whether that’s even what they want to see almost doesn’t matter… young’uns will be responsible for a bad film if there’s even a sniff of modern technology used.

As you can see from the trailer above, War of the Worlds is going to be entirely set on a computer screen. At no point does the action deviate from Zoom calls, YouTube clips, or any amount of open and closed tabs on a desktop. This is far from a new concept, with horror movies like Megan is Missing and Missing (weirdly, a theme here) regularly pivoting to digital means of storytelling. But to not have any grounding in reality at all is more rarely seen, and honestly? I don’t think it serves a purpose at all.

Aside from the laziness I’ve already discussed, I also don’t think the concept does the original story any justice. When you think of War of the Worlds, you think of dynamic action on an incredulous scale, complete with grandiose set pieces and earth-shattering worldbuilding. Wells’ story is something that’s bigger than you can ever comprehend, even if the far-off premise genuinely feels like it could happen one day. Reduce all of that to explosions on a screen, and what magic do you have left?

Ice Cube could completely take me by surprise and pull the best new Prime Video movie of 2025 out of his back pocket, but I highly doubt it. If we’re being honest, there’s no real reason why this War of the Worlds should exist, only strengthening the argument that more movies should be based on original ideas.

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• UpGuard finds unprotected Elasticsearch instance belonging to Leak Zone
• The instance contained millions of IP addresses
• Leak Zone is a known underground forum with a large number of users

In a moment of poetic irony, an underground “leaking and cracking forum” exposed the IP addresses of all its logged-in users, essentially doxxing them to everyone - security researchers, rival criminals - and most notably, law enforcement.

Security researchers from UpGuard found an exposed Elasticsearch database, available to anyone who knew where to look. Deeper analysis determined that the database belonged to Leak Zone, an underground forum where cybercriminals advertise and share stolen archives, credentials, and software.

It contained more than 22 million records - IP addresses and precise timestamps of when the user logged in. The database is also quite fresh, with the archive is apparently being updated in real time, as well as indicating if there is a chance a user logged in using an anonymization tool such as a proxy or a VPN.

Exposed instances - everywhere

It is impossible to say for how long the archive remained open, and if anyone discovered it before UpGuard did.

We also don’t know how many people were exposed in this incident but allegedly, the forum has roughly 100,000 members. In any case, it has since been locked down and is no longer accessible.

The researchers also could not determine the cause of the database being left exposed.

Usually, it is down to human error - admins simply forgetting to set a password, or otherwise encrypt it. In fact, exposed databases continue to be the leading cause of data leaks - among legitimate and illegal organizations alike.

For years, researchers have been warning that cloud works on a shared responsibility model - something many IT teams don’t seem to be aware of.

Some businesses believe securing the cloud infrastructure is the service provider’s task - leaving the back door wide open for cybercriminals.

Via TechCrunch

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is out now in theaters. Regardless of whether you plan on seeing it on the biggest screen possible, though, you might be wondering when it'll available on Disney+.

In short: The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn't have a Disney+ release date yet. However, based on the launch dates of previous Marvel movies on the streamer, we can guess when it'll land on one of the world's best streaming services.

Below, I'll predict when First Steps will join Disney+'s movie library. I'll also provide more information on the iconic quartet's latest big-screen offering, so make sure you read to the end of this article. Before you scroll on, though, check out my review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps to see what I thought about it.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Disney+ release date prediction

The Fantastic Four: First Steps won't be stretching its limbs on Disney+ just yet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

At the time of publication, First Steps doesn't have an official Disney+ launch date. It only landed in cinemas worldwide on July 25, so it'll be a few months before it gets the greenlight to join Disney's primary streaming platform

It'll be a while before the first Marvel Phase 6 movie is added to Disney+'s back catalog, too. Thunderbolts*, which launched in theaters on May 2, still hasn't been released on the service, either – check out my Thunderbolts* on Disney+ article to learn when it may do so.

Nonetheless, that won't prevent me from speculating on First Steps' streaming release. Usually, Marvel releases its new movies on Disney+ around three months after their theatrical debut. With The Fantastic Four's fourth film – the first set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), mind you – only just arriving in theaters, it won't join our new Disney+ movies guide until late October at the earliest.

That said, I think we're in for a slightly longer wait. Deadpool and Wolverine, the only MCU film released in 2024, launched in theaters on July 26 but didn't come to Disney+ until November 12. If First Steps performs as well as the aforementioned comic book movie, I expect Marvel to delay its Disney+ launch until mid-November, too.

My guess? It'll do so on November 11 or 18, i.e. a week or two before US Thanksgiving and a few weeks after Marvel Zombies, the penultimate MCU TV show of 2025, has ended.

Can I rent or buy The Fantastic Four: First Steps on any other streaming services?

The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen outing won't be visible on other streamers for a while, either (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Not yet, though that could change in a couple of months.

Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* landed on premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms and digital stores around eight weeks after their theatrical releases. It's possible, then, that First Steps could follow in their footsteps and be made available on Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube sometime in September. I'll update this section once I know more.

What is the runtime for The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

Flame one! First Steps' runtime isn't too long (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

One of the best Marvel movies (of recent years, anyway) clocks in at just under two hours. Indeed, its official runtime is one hour and 54 minutes.

That includes its end credits sequence, and mid- and post-credits scenes (read my The Fantastic Four: First Steps ending explained piece for more details on those end credit stingers). In summary: First Steps is one of the shortest MCU movies of all-time.

Where can I learn more about The Fantastic Four: First Steps before I watch it?

Here's The Thing – and all of the things you need to know about the first MCU Phase 6 film (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

For more information on the final MCU film of the year, read my definitive guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. You can also learn more about which actors appear in it by checking out my cast and character guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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• The Optoma Photon Go is now on-sale in the US for $999 / £899
• Delivers 60 to 100-inch images at under 10 inches from the wall
• 650 lumens, 8,000:1 contrast and 1.5 hours of battery life

It's all gone a bit Alice in Wonderland at Optoma, which has managed to get a triple-laser projector to drink a shrinking potion. The Optoma Photon Go is barely bigger than a chunky book, but it can project rich images in 1080p Full HD, at up to 100 inches even while sitting under a foot from the wall – and has a punchy stereo speaker system inside.

The Photon Go is now available in the US and Canada after a European launch earlier this year, and it's being marketed as a home or outdoor projector thanks to its easily transportable size and relatively light weight. It's 9.92 x 6.18 x 2.44 inches and 3.79lbs; for metric users that's 25.2 x 15.7 x 6.2cm and 1.7kg.

It's certainly small, but the specification isn't.

(Image credit: Optoma)Optoma Photon Go projector: key features and pricing

The Photon Go is an ultra-short throw projector delivering 1080p resolution and contrast of 8,000:1. Its throw ratio is 0.18:1 and it's capable of delivering a 100-inch image from just 10 inches away. The minimum image size is 60 inches.

The triple-laser RGB light source delivers up to 650 lumens of brightness, Optoma says, and it's expected to last for 20,000 hours.

The Photon Go has automatic focus and keystone correction, Google TV for streaming, HDMI 2.0, USB (C and A) and a 20-watt stereo sound system, and its TSA-compliant battery is good for 1.5 hours of playback.

It's an impressive specification for such a small device, and while the battery life is on the short side it's nothing an external power bank can't fix.

It's a really interesting option among the best portable projectors – it's rare for them to be ultra short throw, so this might be just what you're looking for, if you want to create a huge image anywhere without worrying about having enough distance from the screen.

The Optoma Photon Go is available now with an MSRP of $999. In the UK, it's £899.

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