Luxury electronics brand Loewe have teamed up with luxury timepiece creators Jacob & Co to create two sets of headphones so expensive you'll need to give them a bodyguard.
The Loewe x Jacob & Co. over-ears have "have reimagined headphones as objets d’art." There are two versions: the Noir Rainbow, whose ear cups feature a 14K rose gold circle with 15.97 carats of multi-colored sapphires; and Ice Diamond, which is "radiant" with a 14K white gold ring and 12.47 carats of white diamonds.
Whichever pair you choose you're making a statement, and that statement is "I clearly don't pay enough tax". Because the cheaper Rainbow pair is €99,000 (about $115,235 / £85,440 / AU$176,945) and the Ice Diamond pair is €119,000 (about $138,500 / £102,700 / AU$212,690).
The Ice Diamond model is "radiant with 12.47 carats of white diamonds" (Image credit: Loewe)Loewe diamond headphones: features and availabilityIf you happen to have enough cash for a six-figure set of headphones you'd better move fast: there will only be five pairs of each model.
I suspect the would-be buyers couldn't care less about the specs, but whichever pair you go for you're getting hi-res audio "with expert tuning", adaptive ANC, integrated AI "for voice assistant and real-time translation" and up to 65 hours of battery life.
It's easy to go all Class War here and suggest that spotting such headphones in the wild is a great way to recognize the people who'll be first against the wall when the revolution comes (the launch is taking place on Loewe's luxury yacht, with the orcas).
But underneath all the gems there's what could be a very credible rival to the likes of the AirPods Max and other high-end headphone options, and I suspect that considerably more affordable versions of these headphones will arrive in due course.
You might also likeAfter over a year of radio silence, Bioshock creator Ken Levine has finally emerged to provide an update on his next game, Judas.
In Ghost Story Games' first developer log, Levine said that the studio is focusing all its efforts on finishing the game and has decided to begin having a more direct communication with fans, which will offer more frequent updates than before.
For this first update, Levine highlighted Villainy, a central feature of Judas that is essentially a choice-driven system that will affect who will become the game's villain out of three characters: Tom, Nefertiti, and Hope.
"In Judas, your actions will attract members of the Big 3 to you as friends. But ignore one of them enough, and they become the VILLAIN," Levine explained. "From there, they will get access to a new suite of powers to subvert your actions and goals."
Villainy is just one example of how the Big 3 can retaliate, and the "more dangerous and character-specific stuff" will be revealed at a later date.
Levine also touched on the game's relationship system and once again compared it to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's reactive Nemesis system, explaining that the Big 3 will observe the player and have feelings about how you approach everything from combat, hacking, crafting, and how they interact with the other two characters.
"In Judas, you're going to get to know these characters intimately. We want losing one of them to feel like losing a friend," he said. "We want to play with that dynamic, and we want that choice to be super hard. The Big 3 are all going to be competing for your favor and attention.
"They can bribe you, save you in battle, talk s**t about the other characters, and share with you their darkest secrets. But eventually, you've got to decide who you trust and who you don't."
Judas still doesn't have a release date, because Ghost Story Games is "not quite ready to finalize that," but the game is expected to launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
You might also like...In a first for Apple Music, the music streaming service is offering free access to its six live streamed radio stations in a new partnership with TuneIn – a free online audio streaming platform that gives listeners access to radio, podcasts, sports, and more.
Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn to extend the reach of its live radio shows to the free audio streamer’s 75 million monthly listeners, The Wall Street Journal ($/£) reports, and you can access six Apple Music Radio stations outside of the Apple Music app for free right now. They are:
Apple seems to be conducting another strategic move to entice new subscribers, or regain ones who may have made the switch to competing music streaming services – most notably Spotify. Just last week Spotify unveiled its rival to Apple Music’s AutoMix, and it announced its new Messages feature just a few days ago.
While Spotify offers an ad-supported tier, Apple Music doesn’t, and therefore lacks other means of attracting new subscribers beyond free trials. The decision to expand its radio station access enables it to reach millions of potential new listeners, and if you’re tempted to make the switch, these are the Apple Music Radio stations I’d try out first.
1. Apple Music 1 (Image credit: Future)This is arguably Apple Music’s main radio station, which airs daily music shows from hosts such as Rebecca Judd, Matt Wilkinson, and of course, Zane Lowe. It’s a hot spot for both the latest music releases and for pop culture conversation, and often features guest hosting sessions from some of the biggest artists in the world.
2. Apple Music Hits (Image credit: Future)Similar to Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits also has dedicated slots hosted by both broadcasters and artists, but its main aim is to bring you the best hits from the last 20 years through radio segments highlighting specific genres and music of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. It also has curated shows featuring today’s hits, but not to the extent of Apple Music 1.
3. Apple Music Chill (Image credit: Future)Apple Music Chill is exactly what the name suggests, serving up low-tempo, relaxing tracks which Apple describes as “an escape, a refuge, a sanctuary in sound”. It features laid-back artists and producers, and a variety of instrumental music including dinner party and coffee shop mixes, piano chill outs and spa music.
You might also likeSomeone is selling almost two billion Discord messages and other data, allegedly scraped from the platform, experts have warned.
Security researchers at Cybernews, who saw an ad on an underground hacking forum for the archive.
The data, most likely scraped from the platform, includes 1.8 billion Discord messages, 35 million users, 207 million voice sessions, and 6,000 Discord servers, and can be obtained for a fee.
A Spy.Pet copycat?Discord is a communication platform that lets people chat via text, voice, or video, often in servers organized around communities, games, or interests. It’s popular for gaming, social groups, and professional communities alike, and many servers on the platform are public, meaning anyone can join and read the contents, including chat messages, member names, and more.
This also means that much of the data being sold by the miscreants could be public. Still, while the content is technically visible, harvesting it en masse still violates the platform’s Terms of Service, and using it for commercial purposes, or personal data collection, could run into privacy laws like the GDPR or CCPA.
Whether or not the data is public, can only be determined with a detailed analysis, which no one has done at press time. In any case, it is likely Discord will shut it down, similar to how it shut down a previous service that tried the same thing, called Spy.Pet.
In late April 2024, a website that offered billions of Discord chat logs for sale, was taken offline by the chat app provider. Discord accounts associated with the service were banned, and the company confirmed the service breached its ToS:
"Scraping our services and self-botting are violations of our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines,” the company spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “In addition to banning the affiliated accounts, we are considering appropriate legal action."
You might also likeHonor’s latest book-style foldable, the Magic V5, has finally landed in the UK and Europe after debuting in China earlier this year.
It arrives just a few weeks after the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a month ahead of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is set to begin shipping on October 9.
But how does Honor’s latest foldable flagship compare? We’re currently putting the Magic V5 through its paces – stay tuned for our full review in the coming weeks – but below, we’ve detailed the new phone’s price and on-paper specs versus two of the best foldable phones of 2025.
The Honor Magic V5 with 512GB and 12GB of RAM starts at £1,699.99, undercutting the Pixel 10 Pro Fold by £50 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 by a hefty £100. You'll also get twice as much storage for that price, though Google’s phone does offer a larger 16GB RAM capacity as standard.
Design-wise, Honor claims that the Ivory White version of the Magic V5 is the “thinnest foldable phone” on the market, but our own testing proved that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is, in fact, the thinnest book-style foldable in any orientation. Mind you, at 4.2mm when open and 9.39mm when closed, Honor’s Magic V5 is still improbably slim, and the difference in thickness between it and the Samsung is tough to discern with the naked eye.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, meanwhile, is visibly thicker than both the Honor and Samsung, but it does best the competition with a unique IP68 water and dust resistance rating; the Magic V5 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 get IP58 and IP48, respectively.
Here’s how all three phones compare on the specs front:
Honor Magic V5
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Main display:
7.95-inch LTPO AMOLED (2172 x 2352) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
8-inch LTPO OLED (2076 x 2152) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
8-inch LTPO OLED (1968 x 2184) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Cover display:
6.43-inch LTPO OLED (1060 x 2376) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
6.4-inch OLED (1080 x 2364) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
6.5-inch LTPO OLED (1080 x 2520) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Chipset:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Google Tensor G5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM:
12GB / 16GB
16GB
12GB / 16GB
Storage:
512GB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
OS:
Android 16 / MagicOS 9
Android 16
Android 16 / One UI 8
Main cameras:
50MP wide / 50MP ultra-wide / 64MP telephoto (3x zoom)
48MP wide / 10.5MP ultra-wide / 10.8MP telephoto (5x zoom)
200MP wide / 12MP ultra-wide / 10MP telephoto (3x zoom)
Selfie cameras:
20MP wide / 20MP wide
10MP wide / 10MP wide
10MP wide / 10MP ultra-wide
Battery:
5,820mAh (Si/C)
5,015mAh
4,400mAh
Charging:
66W wired / 50W wireless / 5W reverse wired
30W wired / 15W wireless (magnetic)
25W wired / 15W wireless / 4.5W reverse wireless
At a glance, the Honor Magic V5 boasts bigger ultra-wide, telephoto, and front-facing sensors than both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, while its hefty 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery could deliver superior battery life, too.
The Magic V5 ships in all colors except Reddish Brown in the UK (Image credit: Honor)The phone's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset also promises Galaxy-equaling performance, though we'll need to run our own in-house tests to confirm whether that's the case.
Nonetheless, we've come a long way from the days of the Royole FlexPai and original Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The latest Honor, Samsung, and Google foldables are powerful, durable, and versatile devices that rival the very best phones on the market, and you're unlikely to be left disappointed with any of them.
The Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 are available to order now, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is up for pre-order (as mentioned, the phone begins shipping on October 9). Our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review is live now, and we'll be posting our full Honor Magic V5 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold reviews in the coming weeks.
You might also likeTesla’s Europe and Middle East X account posted a short teaser image yesterday that appears to show the rear of a Tesla vehicle, complete with a small spoiler. The post was also accompanied by the not-so subtle phrase “Spoiler alert”.
Considering multiple news outlets also spied the recently refreshed Model Y lapping Germany’s Nurburgring, complete with a new 21-inch alloy wheels, bucket seats and updates to the front and rear fascias, all hints point towards a new Performance trim level for the Model Y “Juniper”.
Spoiler alert pic.twitter.com/mEcYSAt2GjAugust 27, 2025
Since Tesla’s popular SUV was updated earlier this year, the company stopped selling the range-topping and fastest Performance model, so it makes sense that the silk sheet could be dropped tomorrow.
While some naysayers have bemoaned the fact that this isn’t new product, merely an update, those looking for a spicier and more focussed Model Y have been eagerly awaiting the announcement.
Sales boost(Image credit: Tesla)Although it does’t make a lot of sense to bestow a large, practical family SUV with sports car performance, previous generations of the Model Y Performance have sold well. The refreshed styling of the recently-updated model line will also arguably suit some of the sportier aesthetically changes better than they previously have.
Minor tweaks that were spotted on the vehicles caught lapping Germany’s most famous high performance circuit included Performance badging, upgraded brakes and rumors of upgraded suspension.
Tesla will hope that the release of a more premium and performance-orientated trim line will help boost sales, which have been particularly dreadful across Europe of late, with a 40% drop in July compared to the previous year.
We will have to wait for the full reveal to see what Tesla has in store.
You might also likeRussian WhatsApp rival, the state-developed Max messaging app, appears to be designed to spy on its users.
That's the verdict coming from multiple technical analyses commissioned by Forbes, only days before the app will be forced onto all devices sold in Russia. From September 1, tech vendors must pre-install the MAX app on all new smartphones and tablets.
Experts at the Russian digital rights group, Roskomsvoboda, however, told TechRadar that MAX actually comes with fewer permissions than rivals like Telegram and WhatsApp. Yet they still strongly suggest against using the app for confidential communication.
"The bigger issue lies in the fact that everything transmitted through MAX will be stored on government servers," Ilya Perevalov, Technical Expert of Roskomsvoboda and RKS Global, told TechRadar, adding that the full impact on users "will become clear in the future."
Developed by VK – the provider behind Mail.ru email and VKnote social media services – Max was first launched in March 2025 and already counts 18 million registered users, according to Russian news agency Interfax. Similar to the Chinese WeChat, MAX is also integrated with government services.
What are the risks of using MAX?(Image credit: Getty Images)Security researchers who talked to Forbes have all found the app to constantly monitor users' activities thanks to "excessive tracking" capabilities. The app also seems to be lacking encryption protections, while being built on an overall insecure design.
These findings confirm what privacy experts have long feared – using MAX will make Russian citizens vulnerable to state surveillance. An allegation that, so far, the Kremlin has strongly denied, declaring to Reuters that "it has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals WhatsApp and Telegram."
While experts at Roskomsvoboda confirmed what the Kremlin claims about the number of permissions MAX asks for, they are still warning that the app could turn into a surveillance tool.
"MAX has enormous surveillance potential, as all information and communication within it is accessible to intelligence agencies in real time," explains Perevalov.
MAX users are also at higher risk of data breaches and fraud, especially considering that sensitive data like payment and banking details are set to be integrated within the app.
All in all, "MAX should under no circumstances be used for confidential communication," warns Perevalov.
Can people in Russia use other encrypted messaging services?While Signal has been blocked in Russia since August last year, WhatsApp is still available and the most used messaging app across the country at the time of writing.
This could soon change, however, as authorities have recently confirmed their intention to ban WhatsApp in Russia, blocking access to the only Meta-owned service still functioning in the country.
Even more recently, on August 13, 2025, Interfax confirmed that authorities partially restrict calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly as a measure to combat criminal and terrorist activities.
The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin also recently passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.
This means that using one of the best VPN services to bypass a potential ban on WhatsApp, or any other app for that matter, has suddenly become ever more challenging.
You might also likeIf you watched the recent launch of ChatGPT-5 from OpenAI, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was purely a coding tool. While Sam Altman and his staff did interview one person who used ChatGPT to help understand the medical jargon her doctors were saying to her, the majority of the presentation seemed to be concerned with how great ChatGPT-5 was at writing code.
Out in the real world, however, people use AI and ChatGPT specifically a bit differently. As the outcry from the recent dropping of the old ChatGPT-4o model after the launch of ChatGPT-5 shows, a lot of people use ChatGPT for their mental health, and if you change its personality, it affects them directly. For them, it acts as a mix between a life coach, a therapist, and a friend.
OpenAI seems to be slowly waking up to this fact and the responsibility it bears, and has recently posted an announcement, in which it says, “We sometimes encounter people in serious mental and emotional distress. We wrote about this a few weeks ago and had planned to share more after our next major update. However, recent heartbreaking cases of people using ChatGPT in the midst of acute crises weigh heavily on us, and we believe it’s important to share more now.”
So, while OpenAI is not announcing anything new just yet, it wants to “explain what ChatGPT is designed to do, where our systems can improve, and the future work we’re planning.”
In a nutshell, OpenAI is working to improve ChatGPT in a few key areas related to its users' health and safety, firstly, by strengthening safeguards in long conversations: “ChatGPT may correctly point to a suicide hotline when someone first mentions intent, but after many messages over a long period of time, it might eventually offer an answer that goes against our safeguards. “
Secondly, it is refining how it blocks content. “We’ve seen some cases where content that should have been blocked wasn’t. These gaps usually happen because the classifier underestimates the severity of what it’s seeing. We’re tuning those thresholds so protections trigger when they should.”
OpenAI is also planning to expand interventions to more people in crisis. “We are exploring how to intervene earlier and connect people to certified therapists before they are in an acute crisis. That means going beyond crisis hotlines and considering how we might build a network of licensed professionals that people could reach directly through ChatGPT. This will take time and careful work to get right.”
Parental controls(Image credit: Shutterstock)Another interesting innovation is introducing parental controls. “We will also soon introduce parental controls that give parents options to gain more insight into, and shape, how their teens use ChatGPT. We’re also exploring making it possible for teens (with parental oversight) to designate a trusted emergency contact. That way, in moments of acute distress, ChatGPT can do more than point to resources: it can help connect teens directly to someone who can step in.”
ChatGPT has evolved so far and so quickly that it often feels to me like OpenAI hasn’t really had time to sit down and think about all the implications of its latest innovations before it announces them.
Parental controls should have been an option for all AI chatbots while now, but it’s good that they are finally going to be added. Other AIs, like Copilot, for example, seem to have more guardrails than ChatGPT regarding the types of discussions you can have, but also farm out their parental controls to either the Windows or Apple operating systems.
How OpenAI implements effective parental controls that aren’t easy to circumvent remains to be seen (and is one of the reasons that AIs typically resort to recommending the operating system’s built-in parental controls instead), but I think it’s time for the conversation to start happening.
You might also likeThe Healthcare Services Group (HSGI), a support services provider for healthcare facilities, suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on more than 600,000 people.
In a data breach notification letter, the company said it spotted the intrusion on October 7, 2024, and after investigating the incident, learned, “certain files” were stolen between September 27, and October 3.
In total, more than 624,000 people had their data stolen, which includes full names, Social Security numbers (SSN), driver’s license numbers, state identification numbers, financial account information, and account access credentials.
Pending abuseThe stolen data is extremely sensitive and can be exploited in multiple ways. With names, SSNs, and driver’s license numbers, they can commit all sorts of identity theft, from opening bank accounts, to taking out loans, or even filing fraudulent tax returns.
Financial account information and login credentials allow attackers to steal money directly or gain access to other online accounts if passwords are reused. With personal details, criminals can carry out sophisticated phishing attacks or social engineering schemes, tricking victims into revealing even more information or impersonating them for fraudulent purposes.
According to CyberInsider, breaches like this "could lead to downstream privacy risks or compliance implications under HIPAA and other frameworks," as well.
None of this appears to be happening right now, as HSGI says there is no evidence the data is being abused in the wild - but this doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though, and all victims are being offered free identity theft protection services for either 12 or 24 months, depending on the combination of data stolen.
In the meantime, victims should be extra careful of incoming email messages, or other forms of communication, especially those claiming to come from HSGI. Emails carrying attachments, or a sense of urgency, should be particularly scrutinized, as these are most likely fraud attempts.
You might also likeMarvel Rivals just got a new update as part of Season 3.5. There's a new event called Chrono-Storm, which lets players earn 2x Chrono Tokens from Weekly Missions, Challenges, and Season Missions with up to 2000 bonus Chrono Tokens available. This will help you clear through the Battle Pass before the arrival of Season 4. There's still plenty of time to grind, and loads of challenges to complete before the season is over.
Marvel Rivals crosshairs can be tweaked to suit the Hero you're playing as, with hitscan characters like Luna Snow and Hela suiting a different kind of reticle when compared to projectile characters like Mantis and Moon Knight.
While this extra level of customization won't be necessary for everyone, it can really help if you're planning on taking on Marvel Rivals ranked mode. The game's high quality of competitive modes definitely makes it stand out from its competitors and is one of the main reasons it's already landed on our best crossplay games list. Now that we're well into Season 3.5, and since publishing our Marvel Rivals Tier List, we feel confident offering our expert opinion on the best ways to set up each Hero.
Here's what you need to know about crosshairs in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5, including info on how to change your crosshairs, as well as a selection of the best crosshairs codes to import into Marvel Rivals.
How to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs(Image credit: NetEase)To change your crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, you just need to press pause and then select the following:
One setting to keep in mind is the "Save Reticle" option. This allows you to save different crosshairs, that can then be switched out for each Hero. To customize settings for a specific Hero, just select "All Heroes" in the top left-hand corner, and then switch to the Hero you wish to apply new settings to.
How to import Marvel Rivals crosshairs(Image credit: NetEase Games)To import crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, just navigate to the HUD settings as per the previous section. Once there, look for the "Reticle Save" option, with a dropdown menu that allows you to add new saves. Once you select this, you'll get the option to import a code, if you're playing on PC that is. Importing crosshairs is unfortunately not available on console.
Crosshair codes are long strings of numbers shared by other creators. Just copy these and paste them when the game asks you for an import code. This will automatically apply the correct settings, allowing you to try out other people's recommended reticles.
Marvel Rivals crosshairs codes(Image credit: NetEase)The first crosshair code we're looking at is for Venom mains, a character focused on dive gameplay, with a mid-ranged tentacle attack as the primary fire. The code below comes from content creator Ares, and you can see their full breakdown in this YouTube video.
Next up is Hela, who really benefits from a Dot crosshairs style. This is to make it easier to land headshots and get rid of unnecessary visual elements. For this crosshair, just select the "Dot" option for Reticle Type. You can then Adjust the dot width, but we recommend 12. From there, try out some different colors. We went with Light Blue.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: NetEase) Image 2 of 2(Image credit: NetEase)(Image credit: NetEase)Now, here's a great set of crosshairs for The Punisher. We got this one from The Marvel Rivals Merchant, who has a bunch of excellent recommendations for the best crosshairs to use depending on your Hero. This YouTube video is particularly detailed, explaining the reasoning behind this crosshairs option for The Punisher.
Changing the color of your crosshairs can be really helpful in Marvel Rivals. We recommend starting with a light blue or green, though, of course, this will depend on your specific eyesight and preferences. There's plenty of customization here, making it a great extra piece of accessibility options for those looking to make the game's readability a bit better.
Can you import crosshairs on console?Unfortunately, you cannot import crosshairs codes if you're playing Marvel Rivals on console. This could change in the future, but for now, the codes are simply too long to be copied over using a controller. Players on PC can copy and paste them, though we're hoping developer NetEase adds a console-specific solution in the future.
Should I change my Marvel Rivals crosshairs?Whether you want to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs really depends on how deeply you want to get into Marvel Rivals. If you find yourself playing often, and you tend to stick to two or three Heroes, adding custom crosshairs for each can really help. Some crosshairs, for example, will help you see whether an enemy is within range, while others can assist with landing headshots.
You Might Also Like...The immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades will soon be empty. State officials expect the facility to have no detainees "within a few days."
(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)
Skate is coming back later this year, launching in Early Access across a wide range of platforms. It's a new approach for the series, one that adopts a free-to-play model with seasonal content drops. You'll be able to jump in early to play Skate as it evolves, before the full release at an as-yet-unspecified date.
Thanks to some early access, we've played Skate, and found it to be: "a great game for just skating about or hanging out with friends". You can read more in our Skate preview. Of course, Skate is one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming games of 2025, likely due to the fact that the last entry came out 15 years ago.
Things have changed quite a bit with the latest Skate game. For one, it's now a free-to-play game planned for Early Access before a full release. There will be regular seasonal updates before and after the proper launch, including new map areas, new trick mechanics, and fresh cosmetics. Getting into Skate Early Access is a way to play the game early as it evolves. You'll be able to give feedback and watch in real time as improvements are made.
Here's everything you need to know about Skate Early Access. This includes the release date, the platforms you'll be able to play on, and info on getting access to the game once it all goes live.
Skate Early Access release date(Image credit: EA)Skate Early Access releases September 16, 2025. This is the next available opportunity to play the game, and better yet, it's completely free to play. We'll hopefully get some more details on specific release timing in the next couple of weeks. Once news arrives, I'll be sure to update this section.
Skate Early Access platforms - where can I play?(Image credit: EA)You'll be able to play Skate on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. For PC players, that's via Steam/Epic Games Launcher, or through the EA App. It's worth noting that Skate is also planned for iOS and Android devices, but at a later date, and not during the launch of Early Access.
How to play Skate Early Access(Image credit: EA)To play Skate Early Access, you'll just need to download the game and log in on your platform of choice. There's no upfront price, and it'll be available from your storefront of choice. Preloading hasn't been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for updates.
If you signed up to Skate Insiders before June 27, 2025, you'll now receive an invite to early access, meaning you can jump in right away. Sign-ups are now closed, however.
What's included in Skate Early Access?Skate Early Access is not the final version of the game, and as such, has some features missing at launch. Still, there's a decent amount to play through once it comes out on September 16. Here are the main highlights:
Those are just the highlights on what to expect from Skate Early Access. For a full look at the game, check out the official Skate blog.
Skate Early Access FAQ(Image credit: EA)Is this Skate 4?For all intents and purposes, this is indeed Skate 4 - but in colloquial name only. It's the next major entry into the Skate series, but is it's own thing, given that it's a free-to-play game that's launching first in early access. It's not a remaster or remake, nor is it described as a reboot. According to EA, it's the 'next evolution of the Skate series", and it's officially stylized as: 'skate.'
Is Skate coming to Nintendo Switch 2?No, Skate is not currently planned for Nintendo Switch 2. It's not listed under available platforms, though this may change in the future.
Is Skate on mobile devices?Skate will launch on iOS and Android later in the year, following the early access release on PS5, PS4, XSX|S, Xbox One, and PC. No date has yet been specified.
How much will Skate cost?Skate is free, though it does feature in-game microtransactions. It's a free-to-play game, with optional purchase options for cosmetic items, and a battle pass called Skate Pass. This Skate Pass has both a free rewards track and a premium paid one.
You Might Also Like...Ensuring that no third party can ever access your files, passwords, or online activities is certainly crucial to safeguard your privacy and security, but it can complicate the recovery of important information in case of an emergency. Until now – if you're a Proton subscriber, at least.
Proton has just released Emergency Access, a feature that lets paid users designate up to five trusted contacts to access their accounts on their behalf. Users have full control over when and how trusted contacts grant access.
One of the most requested features from the Proton community, explains the provider, Emergency Access works across Proton VPN, Proton Mail, Proton Pass, and Proton Drive.
"Like all of Proton's products and features, emergency access has been engineered with privacy and security in mind and offers users an effective tool to add an extra layer of assurance and peace of mind to their Proton account without compromising end-to-end encryption," said Senior Product Accounts Manager at Proton, Daniel Rivera Jäggi.
Starting from today, August 28, Proton's Emergency Access is available via the web browser for all paid users – no matter the plan.
How to use Proton's Emergency Access"Emergency access offers a secure and simple way to grant access to loved ones in the case of an emergency," said Senior Product Accounts Manager at Proton, Daniel Rivera Jäggi. (Image credit: Proton)Taking advantage of Proton's Emergency Access couldn't be easier.
All you need to do is head to your Proton Account dashboard via the web browser and select Recovery, and then click on Add emergency contact.
To pick a trusted contact, you'll have to add their email address. This must be associated with a Proton account, either free or paid.
You can then fully customize how trusted contacts will enter your encrypted data by picking your desired wait time for them to grant access. You can also revoke or modify their emergency access contacts and settings at any time.
Your chosen trusted accounts will receive an email notification informing them they've been picked as an emergency contact.
For all the details, you should head to Proton's support page here.
Remember, you'll have to upgrade to a paid Proton plan to be able to use the Emergency Access feature.
You might also likeForeign doctors have been serving as medical volunteers, but must be approved by Israel to enter Gaza. The World Health Organization says denial rates have increased by 50% since March.
(Image credit: Eyad Baba)
Lisa Cook is challenging the president's attempt to remove her from office based on what she says is "an unsubstantiated allegation" of mortgage fraud prior to her Senate confirmation as governor.
(Image credit: Drew Angerer)
The F1 paddock has had its summer break and come to the dunes by the Netherlands' North Sea coast at Circuit Zandvoort this weekend, August 29-31, for the Dutch Grand Prix. All eyes will again be on McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who keep trading wins at the summit of the drivers’ standings.
The duo have finished top of the podium at the last four Grands Prix, with Norris picking up three wins including last time out in Hungary. He also won a year ago at Zandvoort. The Brit trails Australian Piastri by just nine points in the standings with 10 rounds to go and two races in Europe to go, where they've been dominant.
Max Verstappen hasn't had the year many would have expected, but at his home race the 27-year-old four-time world champion will be desperate to put on a good showing in the Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton was pretty downbeat after Hungary three weeks ago and the Ferrari driver will hope for a reset after the break. The eight-time world champion and Scuderia team-mate Charles Leclerc will seek some momentum ahead of next weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the home of Ferrari.
Here’s how to watch the Dutch Grand Prix online from anywhere and potentially for FREE.
Sling is the perfect place for F1 fans in the US to catch their fix for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Their industry-defining Weekend Pass offers the chance to catch all the action on Sling Orange, which carries ESPN channels, for just $9.99 per weekend. Outside of that, you can access the Orange plan for $50.99 per month.View Deal
Dutch Grand Prix schedulePractice 1 – Friday 29th August | 11.30pm BST / 6.30am ET
Practice 2 – Friday 29th August | 3pm BST/ 10am ET
Practice 3 – Saturday 30th August 10.30am BST / 5.30am
Qualifying – Saturday 30th August| 2pm BST / 9am ET
Dutch Grand Prix – Sunday 31st August | 2pm BST / 9am ET
Free F1 live streams of every race are available in three countries: Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. There are also free extended highlights on offer in the UK and Australia.
Most F1 live streams are location-sensitive. So, you won't be able to access your home service when travelling abroad. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a small but powerful app that lets you select your preferred location and thus unblock any F1 live stream – including the free streams in Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium if you're a resident there.
A VPN will allow you relocate your device back to your home country. NordVPN is our favorite VPN and you can make use of it to watch the F1 season while you're away from home.
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We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all.
The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price from $3.39 per month. There's also an all-important a 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in the USAll F1 races this season will be available to watch on Disney-owned services ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and, occasionally, ESPN Plus.
ESPN is the place to watch the majority of F1 races in the States. Some races appear on ESPN2 and ABC.
Cord-cutters can livestream ESPN and ABC via Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.
We believe Sling (from $45.99/month) is the best choice for F1 fanatics as it provides great-value live coverage for viewers who plan to watch Formula 1 in 2025 and beyond. Not only that but you can also get access to their brand-new Weekend Plan which gives you access to ESPN channels for just $9.99.
You can also stream F1 races live and in 4K on F1 TV Premium ($129.99 annually).
If you want to catch the F1 but are traveling outside America right now. Make sure to use NordVPN to watch your usual services.
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in the UKIn the UK, Sky Sports is the home of F1 with a dedicated channel for all the action.
Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month. Or you can use a more flexible streaming option, Now, (formerly Now TV). Now sports passes start at £14.99, but you will need the £34.99 monthly membership to watch the full weekend.
Outside the UK for the race? Use NordVPN (try risk-free) to watch while on your travels.
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in AustraliaFox Sports via Kayo is the main option for Australian viewers with full HD coverage and multi-screen viewing options of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Plans start from $30 a month after you've taken advantage of its first month for $1 offer.
Looking to access your usual F1 stream while outside the country? Make sure to use NordVPN.
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in CanadaCanadian F1 fans can watch the Dutch Grand Prix on TSN.
If you’ve ditched the cord you’ll want to check out TSN Plus, which costs $8/month or $80/year. The TSN app will allow you to live stream F1 practices, qualifying and the race from your phone, streaming box or supported device.
Use NordVPN to if you're outside the country for one of the races.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Web.com was founded in 1999 and worked its way to become one of the leading web hosting technology companies, as well as one of the largest providers of online marketing services in the USA. It was a part of the Web.com Group which also owned a whole portfolio of brands including Network Solutions and Register.com. Their main aim was (or so they claim) to “help customers of all sizes build an online presence that delivers results”.
In 2021 web.com merged with Endurance Web Presence resulting in a new company Newfold Digital. Then, in 2025 web.com was absorbed by Network Solutions.
Plans and pricingWeb.com services aim to cover all the bases when it comes to hosting, website design and the problem of security. Besides shared hosting, they provide domain registration (and transfer) services, their own website builder and WordPress-optimized hosting (managed and unmanaged).
At first, the pricing seems cheap and cheerful, but if you decide to dig a bit deeper you’ll reveal that the displayed price is valid for the first month only. From the second month onward, the price will be more than doubled and if you haven’t read everything through and through, you might feel like you’ve been played for a fool. For instance, the cheapest hosting package (labeled as “Essential Hosting”) is priced at $5.95 per month, yet this goes for the first month only and the second one is going to cost you $14.95, which is a broad daylight robbery in comparison. Well, at least you should get a “free” domain name registration with every package in addition to their beginner-friendly website builder.
As for supported payment methods, they accept all major credit/debit cards and PayPal. If you are wondering about their refund policy, they are rather rigorous about not providing any, although you can cancel their services at any time.
Yes
No
s://www.techradar.com/web-hosting/best-green-web-hosting">Green hosting
Web.com gives you access to a website builder and even an online store (Image credit: Web.com)Ease of useTo kick off your website, you’ll first have to decide which is the right hosting solution for you and whether you want to build your website by yourself (there are several ways to do so) or you would rather put it in the hands of experts (by opting for the “Build It For Me” option). If the latter is the one you want, you should schedule a call with Web.com’s team to get a consultation on the matter (at no cost).
Anyhow (sooner or later), you’ll have to pick out a plan and, since they are well presented, this should be as easy as anything. If you are new to all this, the FAQ section below might be of some help. After adding this plan to the cart, you’ll be asked (as expected) to register a new domain (all of them are free for a year, except for “.co”) or use the one you possess. However, keep in mind that after the renewal period your domain can cost you up to $38 per year, which is a handsome sum of money. There, you can apply a promotional code (if you are lucky to have one), enter your name,e-mail address and password and proceed to create your Web.com’s account.
With all shared hosting packages, Web.com provides its users with an access to cPanel, which is great news. Thanks to its intuitive and beginner friendly interface and one-click installer (for about 25 open-source applications), your website will be on fire in a heartbeat. If you haven’t had much experience with coding and yet you want to develop your website by yourself, Web.com offers a newbie-friendly drag-and-drop website builder which should do the trick.
We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our Web.com site (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experienceAlthough Web.com is quite keen on presenting itself in the best possible light, it (curiously) doesn’t emphasize blazing speed performance as one of its greatest assets. Nevertheless, after putting Web.com’s main website to the test, we learned that they have nothing to worry about concerning this. After taking into account all of the vital web metrics, GTmetrix (our speed testing tool) rated speed performance of Web.com’s website with a B (95%), which is a pretty good result.
Web.com promises an industry-standard uptime of 99.9%. However, after consistent monitoring of Web.com’s main website for a month we got a less favorable outcome resulting in 99.83%. There were four instances of downtime and together they lasted for 67 minutes, the longest one persisting for 28 minutes straight. Although this is not the most dreadful performance we’ve seen, it’s needless to say that we were hoping for better results.
Web.com has an extensive Online Help Center that offers similar functionality to a knowledgebase (Image credit: Web.com)SupportIf you find yourself in need of help, proceed to Web.com‘s “Online Help Center'', which has familiar functionality of a knowledgebase. There, the articles are sorted out into eight fitting categories and each of them is rated by a system involving stars, from one to five. Most of these are beginner-oriented and offer solutions to various potential problems described in great detail, more often with pictures than without. Using the search box should get you a good deal of hits, although a number of them might be rather loosely connected to the actual problem.
As an addition, there is a FAQ section on Web.com‘s site for each product type presented and it provides some helpful insight for all the newcomers.
As a more human-centered alternative, you can reach out to Web.com's technical team via telephone, ticket and live chat, all of which should be available day-and-night. Other than that, you can get in touch with them via text messages on Facebook and Twitter, which is a nice touch for all the users out there.
The competitionAs children of the same parent company, Network Solutions and Web.com are somewhat similar. Both try to be accessible to new users and offer some affordable hosting solutions without the need for compromising the quality. That being said, Web.com gives its users an access to cPanel (probably the user-friendliest solution of its kind out there), while Network Solutions doesn’t, so the choice might be up to that.
Both Bluehost and Web.com have packages aimed at new users in particular, and pretty good ones to boot. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to save some bucks, Bluehost is a better choice, since its entry-level plan goes for $2.95 per month, while it is $5.95 with Web.com. However, if you fail to read about the renewal rates after the promotional period, both hosts might make you jump out of your skin.
While both HostGator and Web.com are more than able to cover everything needed to launch a small business, HostGator can do the same for medium-sized businesses as well. In addition to shared hosting, it provides several options for reseller, VPS and dedicated servers, which is a must-have for a growing business.
WestHost is a fellow US-based web hosting provider with more than two decades of experience in the industry. The smallest plans with both of them are beyond budget-friendly at start (especially WestHost’s entry-level plan which is going for $0.99 at the moment), but they will raise the price after the promotional period to its fullest capacity. Even so, Web.com’s starter plan (which comes as no surprise) puts less restriction on its features and throws in a free domain registration to even the odds.
Final verdictAt the end of the day, Web.com is pleasantly honest in not trying to be something more than it actually is. Their hosting solutions are primarily aimed at newcomers, which they try to supply with everything it takes so they can quickly kickstart their website across the virtual web highway. Hence, if you consider yourself one of them, Web.com’s hosting packages might provide you with a good value for money.
However, if you have bigger plans for your website (or are determined to save some money for the rainy days), your dream website might find a forever home with more celebrated companies like Hostgator, Bluehost or GoDaddy.
Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the first game in a new franchise.
Speaking with YouTube channel MrMattyPlays (via TheGamer), game director Guillaume Broche revealed that Expedition 33 is "not the end" of the series.
"Clair Obscur is the franchise name," Broche said. "Expedition 33 is one of the stories that we want to tell in this franchise. Exactly what it will look like and what the concept will be is still too soon to announce, but what is sure is that this is not the end of the Clair Obscur franchise."
Broche couldn't reveal any more details, but did hint later on in the interview that he tends to forget his previous work when he "writes sequels," suggesting the studio's next game won't be a direct sequel.
Elsewhere in the discussion, Broche was asked about the possibility of Clair Obscur receiving any post-launch downloadable content (DLC). While the game director didn't outright say "Yes", he did tease Sandfall's plans, saying "There may be," and it's "a bit too early to say."
"We may be cooking," he added (thanks, PC Gamer).
Sandfall has previously stated that it was "exploring a wide range of future improvements" including accessibility features, "new content", and "all sorts of bits and bobs".
Just last month, the studio released an update that added a Battle Retry feature.
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