Technology

• A new, official GoPro Max 2 teaser shows it's finally gearing up for launch
• The 360-degree action cam has been in the works for years
• It'll compete with the recently-leaked DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X5

The GoPro Max 2 has been in development for so long it's almost gained mythical status, but the 360 camera is finally ready to officially launch – as some new teaser images have just confirmed.

GoPro shared the two Max 2 images, which show two skydivers using the camera, across all of its social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter). They were accompanied by the one-word tagline "dropping", which suggests we could finally see the camera soon.

The images don't tell us a huge amount about the true successor to the original GoPro Max, which launched way back in 2019. Like the GoPro Hero 13 Black, the camera body has a finned heat sink on the front to help it avoid overheating. The Max 2's lens also appears to be more centralized than on its predecessor.

GoPro's long-awaited camera will be dropping into an increasingly crowded space. The battle for the title of best 360 camera has heated up recently, with the arrival of the Insta360 X5, recent leaks unmasking the DJI Osmo 360, and Akaso today revealing the cheapest 360 camera so far, the Akaso 360.

But despite the growing competition, GoPro remains the most recognizable name in action cameras – so we're looking forward to seeing what the incoming Max 2 brings.

Analysis: the competition can only be good for 360 camera fans

Back in February, GoPro released the Max (2025) – a barely-refreshed version of the original Max with a huge price cut. But now we're finally going to see a true successor. (Image credit: GoPro Max)

The GoPro Max 2's backstory isn't a promising one. GoPro originally told us its Insta360 rival was "in the works" way back in September 2023, almost two years ago. Then in May 2024 it was slated for a launch by the end of that year, only to then slip to 2025.

So why the long delay? GoPro hasn't yet gone into specifics, but it's no secret the company has been struggling recently. Earlier this year, CEO Nick Woodman voluntarily waived his salaryto help the company, but GoPro's stock and revenue have both tanked over the past year.

Still, it's good to see the Max 2 finally skydive in through some dark clouds. While it will likely struggle to eclipse Insta360's latest flagships (the Chinese company has launched four iterations of its flagship 360-degree camera since the original Max), the Max 2 will hopefully bring some new features like interchangeable lenses and improved software to make it a good fight.

The good news for GoPro is that the benefits of 360 cameras still can't really be replicated by smartphones. Shooting everything around you and then pointing the camera wherever you want afterwards is still a very helpful editing trick. And the 360 camera space will benefit from having a rejuvenated GoPro in the mix – even if its Chinese rivals have learned how to thrive in the post-action camera world.

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• Don’t buy a 360 camera – the new DJI Osmo 360 just leaked again, and it’s expected to launch imminently

• Cybernews finds huge databse full of resumes and CVs
• It belongs to TalentHook
• The database apparently remains open to this day

Security researchers have discovered another large unprotected database which was leaking sensitive information to the general public.

Analysts fromCybernews found a misconfigured Azure Blob storage container available to anyone who knew where to look.

The archive contained almost 26 million files, and it was later determined that most of the files were resumes and CVs belonging to US citizens, including people’s full names, email addresses, phone numbers, education details, professional details, and employment history.

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TalentHook in trouble

While it might not sound like much, the cache is a treasure trove for cybercriminals. Knowing these people are actively seeking new job opportunities, they can create fully customized, highly relevant phishing emails, successfully tricking people into downloading malware or sharing login credentials.

For example, the North Korean state-sponsored group Lazarus often targets job seekers on LinkedIn and elsewhere, sharing fake job description files which are nothing more than malware.

In some instances, they would have the victim jump through multiple job interview hoops, before asking for “trial work” which includes downloading malicious code.

Cybernews later determined that the archive belonged to TalentHook, a cloud-based applicant tracking system that connects HR departments with individuals seeking work.

Usually, when the researchers find unprotected databases such as this one, they notify the owners and get it locked down fast. However, in this instance, there was no confirmation that TalentHook actually barred access.

Instead, the Cybernews team shared advice with TalentHook, inviting the team to “change access controls to restrict public access and secure the container”. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that the database remains unlocked and available for all to find. The researchers also did not mention if someone found it already, but this is always a strong possibility.

At press time, there was no evidence of the data already being found and abused in the wild.

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The TechRadar team is delighted to announce that the TechRadar Choice Awards 2025 are coming later this year, and as always, they'll give our reader the chance to help select the best technology and services of the last year. And these awards are bigger and better than ever, now including over 100 categories!

The final awards will be revealed later in the year, and before then, we'll give our readers the chance to vote for their favorite from a shortlist of options, which will be combined with our expert judges' votes to create the final winners.

At this time, we're accepting nominations from anyone who wants to suggest a product that should be on our voting shortlists when the time comes. Maybe you represent a product professionally, or maybe it's just something you've bought and love – your nomination is welcome either way! Our shortlists will be compiled by our editors who are the experts in each topic, but these nominations are your opportunity to ensure that a product you like or want to promote gets their attention.

You can fill out the form on our nominations page below to submit your suggestion. We'll be accepting nominations until August 8, 2024.

• Nominate your products for the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024

With more categories than ever before, that means more chances for our readers to choose their favorites than ever before! In some cases, we've added new categories to reflect the growing popularity of new types of product; in other cases, we've reworked existing categories to better reflect the current market. You can see all the main TechRadar Choice Awards 2025 categories here.

We'll also have some Editor's Choice categories not listed above, which are chosen solely by the TechRadar team.

To be eligible for the TechRadar Choice Awards 2025, products must have been released after September 1, 2024 and before September 30, 2025 – with some exceptions, which you can find here in our explanation of the TechRadar Choice Awards process.

If you want to see which products won in last year's awards, take a look at the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 winners list. We look forward to seeing your nominations for this year's awards!

If there’s one thing that’s hard to dispute, it’s that Apple’s MacBooks can get pricey. There’s no doubt you get a top-quality product – they’re some of the best laptops money can buy – but you definitely pay for the privilege.

The good news, though, is that this could be a great time of year to start shopping around for a MacBook. With Amazon Prime Day kicking off this week, there are plenty of savings to be had if you’re in the market for one of Apple’s laptops.

Combined with a lack of imminent hardware upgrades, pulling the trigger now makes a lot of sense. Here, we’ll take a quick look at the reasons why.

Today's best Apple MacBook deals

The Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) is one of the most powerful MacBooks available, with ample power ready to tackle intensive tasks. With a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU, productivity and gaming are a breeze, and it also helps that you'll have 24GB of unified memory. While still quite pricey on sale, it's a generous deal for a laptop that will serve you well for years.View Deal

The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is the newest version of Apple's popular laptop and it's now down to a great price at Best Buy. You get a great-looking 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, while the boost to 16GB of RAM keeps all your programs running smoothly. It's just a shame Apple still insists on only 256GB of storage as standard, which feels a little miserly in 2025. Nevertheless, this is still one of the best laptops you can buy if you need a performance powerhouse for productivity and creative tasks – especially after this $150 discount.View Deal

It may essentially be just a larger version of the MacBook Air 13-inch, but if that's what you want, then that's what you get – and it's now reduced to its lowest-ever price at Best Buy. Our MacBook Air 15-inch review praised the display, performance, design and speaker array, although we did think the jump in size hurt one of the MacBook Air's key selling points – its portability. Nevertheless, this is still an impressive laptop that was awarded a full five stars.View Deal

On the hunt for savings

(Image credit: Apple)

Given the costs involved, buying a brand-new MacBook is not an impulse purchase for most people. The most affordable Apple laptop is the MacBook Air, which starts at $999. If you want to step up to the MacBook Pro, you’re looking at $1,599 for the entry-level model. That’s a lot of cash to be throwing around.

Sure, this is one case where you get what you pay for. MacBooks are built to last and are packed with top-tier components and features, from the mini-LED display to the incredible chips. You won’t need to worry about spending a heap of money on a lemon, that’s for sure.

And given that Prime Day sales on Apple kit have already begun, you might be able to spend a slightly smaller pile of cash than usual. We’ve seen plenty of eye-opening savings on laptops, and there could well be more around the corner. MacBooks don’t always go on sale, so it’s worth paying attention when they do.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

And there’s another good reason to consider buying a MacBook now: we’re not expecting any significant changes until the autumn. Right now, we’re in the quiet time between Apple’s software announcements at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June and its iPhone 17 range landing in September. It’s highly unlikely that the company will release new Macs any time between now and the fall.

That means there’s less chance of the kind of buyer’s remorse you might feel if you rush out and purchase a MacBook, only for a new one to come out the week after. That’s something you’re not going to have to worry about for a little while.

With all that in mind, it might be worth checking out some MacBook deals to see if you can save a wad of cash on a new laptop, as there are already plenty of savings to be had.

What to look out for

OK, so you’ve decided to scout around for a new MacBook. What should you be on the hunt for?

If you can afford it, a MacBook with an M4-series chip is a fantastic option. The base-level M4 chip – which you’ll find in both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro – is super-fast and can handle most tasks with ease. Its incredible efficiency also makes it a battery champion, blasting past the competition in terms of longevity on a single charge.

Stepping up, there are the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, which are found in the MacBook Pro. They’re ideal if you feel you need extra power or want to dabble in a spot of gaming (yes, MacBooks make great gaming machines these days).

(Image credit: Future)

But buying a MacBook doesn’t have to mean getting the latest, shiniest model. Instead, now is also a great time to find bargains on slightly older Apple silicon chips – indeed, MacBooks bearing the M3, M2 and M1-series chips are still excellent devices with plenty of power on offer. I have a MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro chip, for example, and am more than happy with its performance.

And aside from the chips, you get the same solid battery life, gorgeous displays and eardrum-pleasing speakers that Apple specializes in.

However, we do have a word of warning: avoid MacBooks with Intel chips unless your budget is very restricted. These laptops are all at least five years old now, given that MacBooks transitioned to Apple silicon in 2020. Intel MacBooks weren’t great to begin with, but compared to Apple silicon, they are really showing their age.

Still, if you can avoid that pitfall, you should be able to find yourself a deal on a MacBook that’ll make you very happy. Be sure to check out TechRadar’s Apple Prime Day deals page for the best savings on all the top Apple laptops.

More early Prime Day deals

• Amazon Prime membership: free 30-day trial
• Amazon Devices: 50% off TVs, Echo & Fire Sticks
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Back to school: deals from $5.99
• Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare
• Headphones: $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony
• Health: electric toothbrushes from $24.99
• Kitchen: 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig
• Laptops: record-low prices from $175
• Tablets: iPads and Samsung from $54.99
• Toys: 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox
• TVs: cheap TVs from $59.99
• Vacuums: Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $49.99

• The US government has identified and sanctioned a Russia-linked BPH provider
• Britain's National Crime Agency helped identify a UK front
• The sanctions might not affect Russian attackers

Aeza Group, a Russian bulletproof hosting provider, and four affiliates have been sanctioned by the US government for supporting ransomware and cybercrime, marking the second time this year the US has sanctioned bulletproof hosting providers.

Bulletproof hosting (BPH) providers are web hosting companies that knowingly allow and facilitate illicit or malicious activities by ignoring law enforcement requests, and Aeza Group has been linked to a handful of known attacks.

The group specifically provided infrastructure to ransomware group BianLian, which is believed to operate from Russia, as well as infostealer operations like Meduza and Lumma.

Russian BPH provider received US sanctions

It's believed that BianLian has targeted critical infrastructure in the US as well as notable organizations like Save The Children. Previously known for ransomware encryption, the attackers started focusing on data exfiltration and extortion in early 2024.

Apart from sanctioning the Russia-registered Aeza Group, the US has also sanctioned Aeza International, the group's UK affiliate, with thanks to the UK's National Crime Agency. Arsenii Aleksandrovich Penzev, Yurii Meruzhanovich Bozoyan and Igor Anatolyevich Knyazev are the three key faces associated with Aeza, each owning one-third of the company.

"Treasury, in close coordination with the UK and our other international partners, remains resolved to expose the critical nodes, infrastructure, and individuals that underpin this criminal ecosystem," acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T Smith explained.

The sanctions mean that US companies have been prohibited from engaging with Aeza Group, however with the BPH provider seemingly attracting a mostly Russian customer base, America's sanctions are unlikely to have a meaningful impact on how Russian attackers use the bulletproof host.

"Violations of US sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on US and foreign persons," a Treasury press release confirms.

Besides tackling the BPH provider, US authorities also recently dealt with Lumma by seizing five internet domains used for the information-stealing malware service.

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The Boys season 5: key information

- Announced in May 2024
- Will be the hit series' final installment
- Principal photography wrapped in July 2025
- No release date or trailer revealed yet
- Main cast members will return
- New cast additions announced in late 2024 and February 2025
- Story will pick up after The Boys season 4 and Gen V season 2
- Could set up Gen V season 3
- A prequel spin-off series is already in development

The countdown to The Boys season 5 is officially on. With filming wrapping on the hugely popular Prime Video show's final installment in early July, the clock is ticking on its yet-to-be-announced release on Amazon's streaming platform.

So, what do we know about The Boys' final season ahead of launch? Below, I've rounded up the latest and biggest news on one of the best Prime Video shows' final hurrah. Indeed, I speculate on when it might arrive, and provide more details on its confirmed cast, plot specifics, and where the franchise may go after the mainline series end.

Full spoilers follow for The Boys season 4. Potential season 5 spoilers are also on the way.

The Boys season 5 release date: what we know

A post shared by Eric Kripke (@erickripke1)

A photo posted by on

The Boys season 5 doesn't have a release date yet. However, after Amazon confirmed the popular Prime Video show was getting a fifth installment in May 2024, filming began a few months later. As showrunner Eric Kripke announced on Instagram (see above) recently, principal photography ended on July 2.

So, when will The Boys' fifth chapter be released on one of the world's best streaming services? Amazon hasn't announced an official date, but has confirmed a 2026 release window on X/Twitter.

My prediction? The Boys season 5 will make its bow in mid-2026, with a May or June release window the most likely scenario. That would be in keeping with many of its forebears' releases, with all but one of the series' seasons debuting in the summer (that's winter for southern hemisphere viewers) of their respective launch years.

The Boys season 5 trailer: is there one?

Contrary to popular belief, Season 4 is not a documentary. Still for yer consideration, though. pic.twitter.com/0uDqriIdlwJune 12, 2025

Nope. I'd be surprised if we get one before early 2026 at the, well, earliest, too. I'll update this section once one is release.

The Boys season 5 cast: confirmed and rumored

Hughie and Annie will be back as part of season 5's all-star cast (Image credit: Prime Video)

Major spoilers follow for The Boys season 4.

Based on how The Boys season 4 ended, plus cast additions that have been announced for the show's final entry, here's who I expect to see next time around:

• Karl Urban as William 'Billy' Butcher
• Jack Quaid as Hugh 'Hughie' Campbell
• Antony Starr as Homelander
• Erin Moriarty as Annie January/Starlight
• Laz Alonso as Marvin Milk/Mother's Milk
• Jessie T Usher as Reggie Franklin/A-Train
• Chace Crawford as Kevin Moskowitz/The Deep
• Tomer Capone as Serge/Frenchie
• Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko Miyashiro
• Nathan Mitchell as Black Noir 2.0
• Colby Minifie as Ashley Barrett
• Cameron Crovetti as Ryan Butcher
• Susan Heyward as Jessica Bradley/Sister Sage
• Valorie Curry as Misty Gray/Firecracker
• Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy
• Mason Dye as Bombsight
• Jared Padalecki as TBC
• Misha Collins as TBC
• Daveed Diggs as TBC

Everyone except the final four names on that list have appeared throughout the series and/or season 4.

On the newcomers front, the headline news is that Prime Video has put a Supernatural spin on The Boys season 5 cast with the additions of Padalecki and Collins. They've reunited with Kripke, who was Supernatural's showrunner, and fellow Supernatural alumnus Jensen Ackles. It's unclear who Padalecki and Collins are playing, though.

Elsewhere, The Boys' social media channels confirmed Diggs (Snowpiercer, Hamilton) has signed on in an undisclosed role and announced Dye (Stranger Things, Finding Carter) is on board as a new Supe called Bombsight. Those announcements came in September and October 2024.

That list isn't an exhaustive one, either. Shantel VanShanten, who's portrayed Becca Butcher on and off throughout the show, could feature as the imaginary angel on Billy's shoulder if he ever stops listening to the devilish mirage that is Morgan's Kessler, who I'd also expect to return.

And what about teen Supes who appeared in Gen V season 1?. Much depends on what happens in Gen V season 2, but we could also see Marie, Jordan, and Emma make the jump to the main show. Cate and Sam, who appeared in The Boys 4, could reappear in its sequel, too. Andre won't show up, though, following the death of actor Chance Perdomo in March 2024.

Two other individuals who won't be back are Laila Robins' Grace Mallory and Claudia Doumit's Victoria Neuman. They were killed by Ryan and Billy respectively in season 4's final episode so, unless they cameo in flashback sequences or as hallucinatory figures, we've seen the last of these characters.

The Boys season 5 story speculation

Billy (pictured right) will still be gunning for Homelander in season 5 (Image credit: Prime Video)

Full spoilers follow for The Boys season 4 and Gen V season 1.

The Boys season 5 doesn't have an official plot synopsis yet. However, based on its predecessor's finale (read our article on The Boys season 4 ending explained for more details), we can speculate on what'll occur in its first few episodes.

Before we get into that, though, Kripke has revealed the title for season 5 episode 1, which you can view below.

One. Last. Ride. #DayOne #FinalSeason #TheBoys @TheBoysTV @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/3xRxzUoWfmNovember 25, 2024

The obvious place to start is the 'new world order' established by Homelander becoming the US' new de facto president. He's not technically the leader of the western world's biggest/most profitable nation, but he's essentially the grand orchestrator of things, with Senator Calhoun installed as a puppet president in season 4 episode 8, aka 'Assassination Run'.

What does this mean? Supes are now hardline law enforcers who report directly to Homelander and round up and/or kill anyone that he deems to be a threat. That includes the titular gang, with Hughie, Frenchie, and Mother's Milk being kidnapped at the end of 'Assassination Run'. Kimiko was captured alongside Frenchie and, given she's superhuman, I suspect she'll be forced to join Homelander's new special forces against her will.

As for Annie January/Starlight, she managed to escape; Hughie's superpowered girlfriend fleeing into the sky – with Hughie's blessing – to evade capture. I wouldn't be surprised if she covertly tries to locate some fellow superpowered people to help her rescue Hughie and company. Meanwhile, Billy has also evaded Homelander's clutches, with The Boys' double-crossing former leader heading to pastures unknown with the only vial of Supe-killing virus on the planet.

Catchin our breath from yesterday, let’s recap what we learned, shall we?- @genv Season 2 officially arrives 2025, with Hamish Linklater as the new God U dean and Chace Crawford guest starring.- We’ve cast an up-and-coming actor named Jensen Ackles for The Boys Season 5.… pic.twitter.com/eHTqi5c29dJuly 27, 2024

Kripke said that deflating ending was intentionally chosen to set up a fifth season where the titular gang were at their lowest ebb. "I think the finale of season four really shows you that we've been planning five years all along, because there's no way a show goes one more season after the events of that finale", he told LadBible. "As far as we're concerned, it's our show's version of the apocalypse.

"Homelander gets everything he has wanted from the beginning, which is to completely remake the United States in his image, and according to his whims. The boys are at their lowest point, most of them are captured, and we worry for their future.

"I always look at it as of the five seasons, we're kind of at that point, that's sort of the end of the second act of a movie where everyone's really at their low point, and they've all faced their own personal demons. Now, they need to really come together in the fifth season and save the world."

As for the aforementioned virus, it's unclear how Billy will use it. Does he want to save it for Homelander specifically or, based on the dark side of the persona (aka his hallucinations of former best bud Joe Kessler), will he try and work out how to mass produce it, and then employ his 'scorched earth' policy to kill every Supe? The latter would surely mean he meets fierce resistance from The Boys, who count the superpowered Annie and Kimiko among their posse. The good side of his persona (ie his visions of Becca Butcher) may try to prevent him from using it on a national and/or global scale, too, as doing so would kill Ryan, aka Becca's son who Billy is sworn to protect.

Season 5 will explore the father-son dynamic between Soldier Boy and Homelander, according to Kripke (Image credit: Prime Video)

Let's not forget that, after injecting himself with Compound V in season 4, Billy has put himself in the firing line if he released the virus worldwide. That said, he's dying from a super form of cancer after he continually took the experimental Temp-V serum in The Boys season 3 (read our ending explainer on The Boys season 3 for more), so he'll just consider himself to be necessary cannon fodder if it means wiping out every Supe with the pathogen.

There are plenty of other questions that The Boys season 5 needs to address or, more importantly, answer before its final credits roll.

Where did Ryan go after he escaped the CIA's safehouse? Will we see A-Train and Queen Maeve again and, if so, will they side with The Boys to take down Homelander and/or Billy? What powers did Ashley acquire after taking Compound V? And, after he was saved from another prison stint by his recently deceased adoptive daughter Victoria Neuman, where on earth is former Vought CEO Stan Edgar?

That's before we even consider the potential impact Gen V season 2 will have. Indeed, its first trailer appears to set the stage for The Boys season 5 and, with some characters from the main show set to cameo, there'll be even more crossover between the series' stories than before.

As for how The Boys franchise's primary story will end, Kripke said (via Collider): "It’s so hard to land that plane, much less we’re landing eight different planes. I am appropriately respectful and have an appropriate amount of trepidation for how hard that job is. I’m not walking into it cocky at all. I’m walking into it like 'Okay, let’s second and triple guess every single decision because we really wanna land this plane'... I’ve got to make sure I stick that moment.”

What does the future hold for The Boys on Prime Video?

Introducing the next deranged entry into the world of The Boys: VOUGHT RISING, starring Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash. Set in the 1950s, exploring the early exploits of Soldier Boy and a supe you know as Stormfront. Only advice for now is keep your hands off the fucking shield. pic.twitter.com/Ss9lqnnbP3July 26, 2024

Gen V season 2 aside, there's only one other spin-off that's been announced: Vought Rising. Set in the 1950s, the murder mystery-inspired prequel series, which was one of nine big Comic-Con 2024 announcements we're most excited for, will explore the origins of the Supe-developing corporation Vought Inc. and the not-so-humble beginnings of Ackles' Soldier Boy. Stormfront, who was played by Aya Cash in The Boys season 2, will also feature heavily throughout. It could also feature the first-ever Herogasm, too.

Meanwhile, there were rumors that another The Boys spin-off show was in the works, which was said to involve Star Wars: Andor's lead Diego Luna. The second live-action spin-off is believed to be based in Mexico, but there's been no more news on whether it's still in development.

Speaking to Collider in November 2022, The Boys executive producer Seth Rogen also expressed his wish to make a second season of animated anthology spin-off The Boys Presents: Diabolical. Again, there's nothing new to report on whether it's moving forward.

Lastly, we don't know if Gen V will return for a third season yet. I'd be surprised if it didn't, but The Boys season 5's ending will likely dictate its future. If there are narrative beats left over from the main show, Gen V season 3 would be the ideal candidate to tie up any loose ends.

For more Prime Video-based coverage, read our guides on Fallout season 2, The Rings of Power season 2, and the best Prime Video movies to stream today.

On the first morning of a new month, you’ll often find me scrolling the lists of every platform to find which streaming movies and shows simply have to go on my watchlist.

Honestly, I love sitting down with my coffee and adding all of those must-see titles. Every month I hold out hope that somehow, The Vanishing from 1993, which isn't streaming anywhere – yep, not even VOD, and the physical media is OOP — will magically appear. It never does. But! I digress!

I'm here to help you consider which of the best streaming services might be worth keeping for this month, and which subscriptions to perhaps pause. This tactic is known among cord-cutters as subscription hopping. Not only is it a money saver, it's also fun to say, as it conjures images of bunnies. Just me? Okay, well, without more of my silliness, here's my dive into one streamer I'm keeping, and one I'm dropping for July 2025.

Here's why I'm keeping Peacock in July 2025

Danielle Deadwyler in The Woman in the Yard. (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

First off: The Woman in the Yard technically dropped at the tail-end of June, but it piqued my interest on account of hearing in almost every review how thoroughly bleak it is. The film hails from Jaume Collet-Serra, whose resume seldom includes titles that don't feature Liam Neeson. Alas, he fails to appear in this PG-13 horror about a widow whose life is plagued by a mysterious woman (you guessed it, she's in the yard) who tells her "today's the day". Not your typical Blumhouse fare, so worth a watch.

On July 11, we have the latest Christopher Landon. The filmmaker behind Freaky and Happy Death Day brings more of a thriller edge to Drop. The movie centres around Meghann Fahy, who is having A YEAR, as her date night is scuppered by a hooded killer who threatens to kill her kid unless she murders her date. Most of the comparisons on this reference Hitchcock, which is never a bad thing. That's how we ended up with Brian DePalma, after all.

Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face (Image credit: Peacock)

On the series front, there’s a great crop of new genre titles dropping episodes every week. We’ve got the season 2 finale of Poker Face arriving mid-month, which has been a who’s who of TV with its cameos, along with the SyFy series Revival. Wynonna Earp fans are already tuning into this latest show which features Melanie Scrofano as a police officer Dana Cypress who presides over an unusual Wisconsin town where the dead return to life. But see, they're not zombies, they're just back. Scrofano's cop has to investigate a murder with a victim who is now revived, making the case a real puzzler! Early word is positive on this Canadian show so add it to your watchlist.

My big must-watch for the month lands right before we head into August. The season two premiere of Twisted Metal arrives July 31. I was shocked at how much I utterly adored season one despite the not-enough-Neve-Campbell of it all.

Based on the PlayStation game of the same name and developed by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the duo responsible for dragging Deadpool into the big-screen mainstream, Twisted Metal ain't your typical video game adaptation. It's really, really good. The show revolves around a post-apocalyptic landscape traversed by John Doe (Anthony Mackie), a milkman tasked with shepherding a package of unknown contents across the united states on behalf of a feared leader (Campbell) along with a new-found friend (Stephanie Beatriz).

Along the way he encounters all sorts of serial killers (Will Arnett is TERRIFYING), marauders, and generar ne'er do wells, and it's exhilarating. This felt like Stephen King's The Stand crossed with the best part of Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead. A trash-talkin' road trip extravaganza that's equal parts action and gore. This is a huge, huge recommend. Catch up on season one before the new one drops. Speaking of drops…

Why I'm dropping Netflix in July

Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2. (Image credit: Netflix )

Yes, yes, I know. Netflix's July line-up for the US includes the entire Jaws and (most of) the Mission Impossible franchises along with season two of The Sandman. I wasn’t the hugest fan of season one, to be fair, so I wasn't holding out for it. But there's unfortunately no major new releases I'm excited about.

The only new films to hit are both Netflix Originals; The Old Guard 2, which isn’t getting the best reviews, and Happy Gilmore 2 which drops at the end of the month. If the latter, which finds Adam Sandler returning as the titular golfer, receives good word then that’ll be one to consider if I resubscribe to Netflix in August.

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The UK Government put forward a consultation to ban public sector organizations from paying ransomware demands. An enacted ban would prohibit central and local government organizations, as well as other bodies considered Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), from making payments to a threat actor in the event of a ransomware attack.

One pro-ban theory is that this kind of restriction would remove an attacker’s justification or desire to attack. Knowing they won’t get paid, an attack is a waste of time, right? But would this actually work? To the credit of pro-ban believers, there’s also no guarantee that payment to an attacker will result in the promised decryption or safe return of stolen information – attackers may just take the money and run.

Ideally, implementing a ban on payments minimizes the number and frequency of attacks by eliminating the reward of a payout. However, there are both ethical and moral dilemmas associated with not paying ransoms.

Where it concerns a CNI victim, there may be lives at risk. The easiest example is a hospital. Imagine your local hospital falls victim of a targeted ransomware attack and all of the internet-connected devices within the facility cannot properly function to sustain the lives of those inside. Or perhaps a water supply or electricity facility that provides service to the hospital is targeted.

These ransomware attacks would also impact the hospital and people’s lives. In the heat of the moment, those ransomware payments can be used to quickly calm the panic and return to normal, recovering bricked systems and getting critical services up and running.

The potential impact of a ban

To put it bluntly, banning ransomware payments will not solve the problem. A total ban will make it much harder for some public sector organizations when the situation arises – and unfortunately, it will arise. As we covered, healthcare providers, for example, would be hugely affected. In my opinion, the onus should be on the victim organization to decide on whether to make a ransomware payment, especially when lives are on the line. Only those that are directly affected have enough insight and context to weigh this kind of decision based on the risks and impacts of whether or not the payment is made.

If the UK does decide to implement a full ban on payments, there will be even more pressure on public sector organizations to ensure their business continuity plans are sufficient enough to protect and recover their data following a ransomware attack. Inevitably, it will lead to a new regulation, mandating and checking that all organizations from large central bodies to small niche concerns and tertiary partnerships and shared services are all in adherence.

Presumably, each of these organizations already have their own technology investments and continuity plans in place, but to align with a ransomware payment ban and potential regulatory security requirements, they would have to make changes.

The time to plan for ransomware response is, of course, before an incident happens. So adequate continuity and data protection policies can be level-headedly implemented, scaled and – most importantly – tested. This planning phase, on a grander scale, would include making more resources available to help public sector organizations ensure they are resilient and that their backup plans work effectively.

Adopting a “center of excellence” approach would help organizations to be better prepared, protect their users, and recover more effectively. If the government were to be so kind as to implement the ban with a loophole, there would also need to be additional support for CNI organizations that must pay the ransom in order to get back to service delivery. Would there then be specific consideration for public-private partnership or outsourcing providers, and whether those private companies would also be covered by the ban?

Between theory and practice

There’s a fine line between preventing ransomware attacks by turning off the financial incentive and only encouraging attackers to change their tactics. Whereas ransomware attacks are currently often public fanfare, they could be forced into secrecy and we could see less intelligence sharing across the cybersecurity community under a ban.

Ransomware remains lucrative for attackers, so it likely won’t go away any time soon. In response, regardless of the ban, organizations have to adopt real-time threat detection and response capabilities to prevent potential attacks on their cloud deployments as quickly as possible. Ultimately, maintaining effective and tested data backups in the event of something going wrong remains a crucial part of the resiliency equation.

Separating systems across different networks or cloud environments also helps to prevent single points of failure that ransomware actors can exploit, reducing the blast radius and hopefully giving you some flexibility and access during an attack.

In a perfect world, organizations should be able to detect a potential attack and shut it down before the ransomware is deployed. This requires preparation and the right processes and security tools. By continuing to stay one step ahead and preventing attacks, we can hopefully argue against and avoid the ransomware payment ban.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

JPMorgan has raised the alarm on the growing threat posed by modern software integration models. The global finance corporation released an open letter to its technology suppliers as a call for them to modernize their security or risk being cut off. It’s a bold, necessary move in an era where one weak link can unravel an entire organization's cyber defenses.

Security architecture must be modernized to keep pace with growing threats and ensure organizations can continue to operate safely. However, as well we know, visibility is the bedrock of any resilient security strategy. Without full, real-time insight into all assets, especially those brought in by third-party suppliers, organizations are effectively flying blind. Recent high-profile breaches in the retail sector have shown us that even the most sophisticated enterprises are vulnerable when blind spots exist in their supply chains.

So while the open letter places a lot of emphasis on third parties and their role in supply chain security, it shouldn’t divert responsibility away from businesses themselves. Organizations must take ownership and enforce compliance and security standards across their supplier ecosystem. When disaster strikes, it doesn’t matter where the fault lies, it’s only the victim who suffers.

Third-party risk is first-party responsibility

Expecting every supplier to meet high security standards is only part of the equation. Businesses can’t enforce what you can’t see, and right now, many don’t have real-time visibility into their own assets, let alone those of their partners.

The problem is, too many are still burying their heads in the sand. Many senior executives cling to the dangerous assumption that "the IT team has it covered" or that cyber insurance will magically fix everything after an attack. History is plagued by organizations who underinvested, or perhaps more accurately mis-invested, in cyber resilience and failed to properly understand the risk until they were dealing with a full-blown crisis.

Attacks on retail giants like Target and more recently M&S and the Co-op have shown us what happens when third-party risk is underestimated. These aren’t startups with immature IT, they’re household names with serious resources. And still, the breach came through third-party access points.

Some businesses are genuinely overwhelmed by the technical complexity and competing priorities, but others have simply been lulled into complacency by years of dodging cybersecurity incidents through sheer luck rather than good management.

But it’s not always deliberate ignorance. It often comes down to decision paralysis where leaders are confronted with an intimidating wall of threats and solutions and simply don't know where to begin. This is often combined with a reluctance to spend money when they themselves haven’t experienced an attack. The easiest approach therefore ends up being to delay making a decision. However this inaction just allows security gaps to grow larger by the day as attackers refine their methods.

The unfortunate reality is that many businesses only develop robust cybersecurity practices after suffering a significant breach when the damage is already done.

Don’t invest in more tools; invest in smarter architecture

Boosting cyber resilience is not about adding more tools to an already extensive tech stack; it’s about ensuring that every part of that stack functions cohesively. Collectively, we need less complexity, more clarity and above all, the ability to continuously control. That’s how to build security that lasts.

At a minimum, cybersecurity should be treated like safety or finance at board-level, as something that is supported by automation, continuously monitored and managed and it starts with visibility. Full, continuous visibility across the entire tech stack, including third-party integrations, is the only way to manage modern threat paths. It’s not enough to trust a supplier’s word. You need evidence, you need monitoring, and you need to know the moment something changes.

Regulatory compliance also places huge importance on third party risk, which should be a big indicator that organizations need to take the proactive steps in ensuring that their third parties are secure. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ISO 27001 and NIS 2 all mandate that third party risk is now a core compliance requirement.

So, while the knee-jerk response to JPMorgan’s letter might be to bolt on yet another tool, more tech isn’t always the answer. In reality, it often just adds complexity which works against businesses looking for greater cyber resilience.

Take ownership of your security

Managing third party risk isn’t something businesses can shift to their suppliers. Instead the Board must listen to their cyber teams who are crying out for the right systems and support. Only then can they take control and ensure they have the ability to monitor systems continuously, align security frameworks and surface evidence of compliance and risk in real time. That’s where the future of cybersecurity lies, and it will help them prepare for whatever new threats emerge.

If you’re still relying on supplier questionnaires and periodic audits to manage third-party risk, you’re already behind. Working with third-parties is a two way street and requires ongoing collaboration. Businesses are just as responsible for their own security, and must proactively hold partners accountable for their end. JPMorgan’s letter is a wake-up call, but the response shouldn’t be panic. It should be clarity and control.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Android Auto's Spotify app gets a handy little redesign in latest update
• Jam function allows those in the vehicle to collaborate on playlists
• Minor changes to the UI make Spotify easier to navigate

A recent update to the Android Auto Spotify app has introduced some handy design tweaks and an additional feature that lets passengers to get involved in the playlist-curating action.

Arguably the biggest update is the addition of the popular ‘Jam’ function that allows anyone in the car to scan a QR code and then join the Jam session to add tracks to a shared queue. It saves the need for a driver or front passenger to manually enter musical suggestions.

The driver or owner of the Spotify account linked to the Android Auto system still has full control over who can join and suggest music, but the owner must have a Spotify Premium account to commence a Jam session. That said, free users can still join the Jam.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

Some of the other updates are slightly less obvious, with a mild refresh to the user interface that includes a more prominent ‘Downloaded’ section in the library, which allows for easier navigation to those tracks, podcasts or audiobooks that have been downloaded for offline use.

In addition to this, there is a new floating search shortcut that opens a dedicated search page for Spotify, according to 9to5Google. Prior to this update, voice-operated Google Assistant was the only way to safely search for music when driving.

Rather than Google Assistant finding the track and immediately playing it, the new dedicated Spotify search function allows the user to search for albums and tracks, with the results shown in the Spotify app.

More to come from Android Auto

(Image credit: Google)

In May this year, Google hosted its annual I/O event, which introduced new developer programs and tools that would allow greater flexibility on the Android Auto platform.

Games and communication apps were a particular focus, with the promise of greater video integration when the vehicle is parked. Google also stated that it was working with OEMs to enable audio-only listening for video apps while driving.

According to 9to5google, other media apps will receive similar updates in the coming months, with Amazon Music and YouTube Music all due a refresh.

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Artificial general intelligence (AGI) has become one of the most talked-about topics in technology circles, evoking excitement, speculation and concern. Yet for leaders navigating today’s rapidly evolving AI and digital landscape, the more relevant questions are not about when AGI might arrive, but what it means, why it matters and how to prepare.

As we move through 2025, the AGI conversation must shift from abstract futurism to concrete implications for markets, operations and society.

Explaining AGI beyond the buzzword

Generative AI, which surged in popularity during 2022 and 2023, is undergoing a necessary recalibration. After widespread experimentation, many enterprises are discovering that implementation hurdles—ranging from hallucination risks to integration costs and regulatory uncertainty—are often greater than anticipated.

Gartner now places generative AI in the woeful “trough of disillusionment” category of its Hype Cycle—not because the underlying technologies lack promise, but because expectations exceeded what current systems can reliably deliver.

This moment of pause presents an opportunity for business leaders to reframe the AGI discussion away from timelines and hype, and toward more meaningful strategic considerations. One such consideration is the question of which capabilities truly define AGI—that is, what exactly is AGI?

The term is often used loosely to mean a sort of omniscient software, but in reality, general intelligence encompasses a variety of functions: transferring knowledge across domains, reasoning about causality, navigating social contexts, generating creative solutions and making decisions under uncertainty.

Each of these functions presents distinct technical challenges and offers different kinds of value—and risk. Rather than treating AGI as a monolith, businesses should assess which cognitive functions are most relevant to their industries and operational needs—those capable of best delivering shareholder value, contributing to society, and strengthening long-term strategic advantage.

Moving from AGI benchmarks to AGI benefits

Similarly, progress in AI tools should not be measured by leaderboard performance alone. Accuracy in narrow tasks is not equivalent to intelligence. A model that excels at answering trivia questions may fail catastrophically in unfamiliar or ambiguous scenarios.

For businesses, robustness, adaptability and reliability matter far more than benchmark supremacy. The focus should be on how systems perform in dynamic, real-world environments—how they generalize, how they fail and how those failures are detected and mitigated.

The evolving regulatory landscape

Governance is another area where AGI debates intersect with pressing business concerns. Regulatory frameworks are evolving but remain uneven. The European Union’s AI Act took hold in 2024, establishing specific requirements for high-risk systems. Global standards organizations like ISO and IEEE are proposing early frameworks for AGI safety, but comprehensive oversight mechanisms remain nascent.

For companies operating across jurisdictions or deploying powerful AI models, proactive governance—through internal audits, industry collaboration and policy advocacy—is quickly becoming a strategic necessity.

The here and now of AGI

As businesses grapple with how AGI will work in the future, current AI systems are already reshaping industries and altering risk landscapes, for better and worse. In healthcare, diagnostic tools are improving access and efficiency, while innovations like Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold are accelerating drug discovery. In construction, AI-based safety monitoring has been linked to significant reductions in workplace incidents.

Meanwhile, in finance and commerce, the rise of deepfake technologies has exposed organizations to new forms of fraud and brand risk. In one 2024 poll, 26% of executives said their organization had experienced at least one “deepfake incident targeting financial and accounting data” in the past 12 months—a trend with real implications for cybersecurity and trust.

The labor market is also undergoing transformation. Cognizant’s New work, new world research found that 90% of jobs could be disrupted by generative AI. This change will surely be exacerbated by AGI. For business leaders, this is not merely a workforce planning issue but a strategic opportunity: to invest in reskilling, shape future-of-work policies, and support talent transitions that keep their organizations resilient and competitive.

The time to address AGI questions is now

All these developments suggest that the most urgent AGI-related challenges are not in the distant future—they are here now. The AGI risks that often animate discussions, such as misalignment with human values or concentration of power, are already playing out in today’s systems. Addressing these challenges now not only mitigates near-term harm but also lays the foundation for responsibly navigating more advanced capabilities down the line.

Ultimately, AGI should not be seen as a finish line, but as part of a broader continuum of increasingly capable AI systems. The question may not be when machines might match human intelligence, but what kind of intelligent systems we are choosing to develop today, and whether they align with long-term goals of trust, accountability and economic inclusion.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Ingram Micro tells some employees to work from home as it tackles cyberattack
• Unconfirmed reports claim the attack is the work of SafePay
• No information about stolen data yet

Ingram Micro, a global distributor of information technology (IT) products and services, has confirmed it suffered a ransomware attack which forced it to shut down parts of its infrastructure, prevented it from operating properly, and sent some of its employees to work from home.

In a press release published on its website, the company said it recently identified ransomware on “certain of its internal systems.” As a result, it “proactively” took some systems offline, and implemented “other mitigation measures”. Third-party cybersecurity experts were also brought in to assist with the investigation, and the police were notified.

“Ingram Micro is working diligently to restore the affected systems so that it can process and ship orders, and the company apologizes for any disruption this issue is causing its customers, vendor partners, and others,” the press release concludes.

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Smuggling through

While Ingram Micro did not detail the attack, the culprits, or sensitive files potentially stolen in the attack, BleepingComputer reported that the incident was the work of SafePay, a relatively young ransomware operation that emerged between September and November, 2024.

This group engages in the usual double-extortion tactics (encryption + data theft), and claims to have breached more than 200 organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, or education.

The publication also reports that SafePay’s hackers broke in through the company’s GlobalProtect VPN platform, and left ransom notes on employee devices. Some employees were sent to work from home and were allegedly told not to use the GlobalProtect VPN access.

Among the systems impacted by the breach is Ingram Micro’s AI-powered Xvantage distribution platform, and the Impulse license provisioning platform. Other internal services are operating as usual.

Ingram Micro is a giant in the IT products and services industry, servicing more than 160,000 customers globally, including giants such as Apple, HP, or Cisco.

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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #757).

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 #758) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FLING
• KEY
• CARPENTER
• BENCH
• PIN
• CANDY
• MAJOR
• THING
• MIRROR
• LEGEND
• AFFAIR
• CODE
• SCALE
• PASSWORD
• LOCKER
• RELATIONS

NYT Connections today (game #758) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: On the side
• GREEN: Where athletes go after a game
• BLUE: “Open up”
• PURPLE: Share the same name

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 #758) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: LIAISON 
• GREEN: SEEN IN A LOCKER ROOM 
• BLUE: SOMETHING ENTERED FOR ACCESS 
• PURPLE: JOHNS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #758) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #758, are…

• YELLOW: LIAISON AFFAIR, FLING, RELATIONS, THING
• GREEN: SEEN IN A LOCKER ROOM BENCH, LOCKER, MIRROR, SCALE
• BLUE: SOMETHING ENTERED FOR ACCESS CODE, KEY, PASSWORD, PIN
• PURPLE: JOHNS CANDY, CARPENTER, LEGEND, MAJOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This was one of the easiest rounds of Connections I can remember, with no crossover confusion and four very gettable groups.

Despite this I’m still annoyed that I didn’t get JOHNS, as it was the first thing I thought of when I saw LEGEND and CANDY, but I pursued LIASON instead. Including a vintage British prime minister may have thrown some players, but as a vintage Brit myself I had no such excuse.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, July 7, game #757)

• YELLOW: INFORMANT CANARY, LEAK, RAT, SOURCE
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION FOOTPRINT, IMPACT, MARK, SPLASH
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES BLOCK, DRIBBLE, PASS, SHOOT
• PURPLE: TOP___ BANANA, DOG, HAT, SECRET

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #491).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… So extra

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SOME 
• TRIP
• DEAR
• STONE
• SORE
• PRAM

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #492) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #492) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #492, are…

• TIME
• CHANGE
• KEYS
• MOMENT
• BEDROOM
• HANDS
• PARTS
• TIRES
• SPANGRAM: SPARES

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

It took me a while to move on today after getting TIME, so I took a hint from my many non-game words and CHANGE made me switch from thinking we were looking for extra things to spare things.

The spangram SPARES was disconcertingly short; I was looking for other words to tag on to “spare” before finally just adding the S.

That said, it was a pleasant change from those big curly spangram snakes that take up big chunks of the board.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, July 7, game #491)

• BUNK
• LAKE
• FLAGPOLE
• CANTEEN
• LODGE
• FIELDHOUSE
• SPANGRAM: SUMMER CAMP

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new 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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, July 7 (game #1260).

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 #1261) - 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 #1261) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1261) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1261) - 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 2.

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 #1261) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• P

• G

• O

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

Quordle today (game #1261) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1261, are…

• PLIED
• PRANK
• GAWKY
• OXIDE

This was a really difficult one.

Somehow I managed to get through without a mistake. This was mainly due to using common letter combinations – PRA and GA and IDE and LIED – and then filling in the blanks. It doesn’t always work, but it did for me today.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1261) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1261, are…

• GODLY
• GIANT
• PRIOR
• HARRY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY

• Nvidia is rumored to be cutting production of RTX 5000 GPUs
• Manufacturing levels are supposedly looking at a cut of 20% or more in July
• If true, as the effects of that filter through, we can expect price rises by September

Nvidia could be planning to cut down production of its RTX 5000 graphics cards, according to a new rumor, which would of course mean less stock on shelves.

Japanese tech blog Gazlog noticed a Chiphell post (via Wccftech) claiming this is the case, and that Nvidia has already reduced supply of its Blackwell graphics cards as of June.

We're told that in May 2025, RTX 5000 supply stabilized and stock levels of the GPUs increased, with prices falling – in some cases, below MSRP. Team Green has therefore seemingly decided to reduce stock levels from July, with supply expected to drop by between 20% to 30% compared to June - and as noted, there's already been something of a cut in production for June.

Of course, less inventory would mean the possible specter of GPU price rises, but we must be very careful around the speculation aired here – particularly because it derives from Chiphell, which isn't always the most reliable source (though it has provided hardware rumors that have proved true in the past).

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Analysis: Grab a GPU quickly?

I'd be particularly cautious about this rumor since the theorized drop in production is a hefty one. If true, though, it would mean that prices for Nvidia's RTX 5000 GPUs are surely set to rise.

Why would Nvidia be planning such a move? Well, part of the assertion made here is that prices have fallen too much, due to GPU stock getting beefed up beyond the demand that's out there. Another theory is that Nvidia may want to allocate chips elsewhere – namely to graphics cards for China, and primarily the new version of the GeForce RTX 5090 D (the Asian variant of the Blackwell flagship). The latter sounds a plausible enough scenario.

Of course, if production is indeed being adjusted as this rumor suggests, the effects of that won't be felt immediately, but rather in a couple of months. (As there are already chips out there being distributed, of course, in the long chain of events that happens when putting together graphics cards).

This amounts to the prospect of price rises around September time, and funnily enough, that idea chimes with other chatter from the GPU grapevine that we've been hearing lately. Namely the speculation from Moore's Law is Dead on YouTube that due to various factors – relating to both tariffs, and hardware upgrades because of the end of support for Windows 10 – graphics card price hikes are coming in Q4 of 2025 (from October, in other words).

All of which, given this fresh rumor, adds up to some seriously heavy hinting that now might be the best time to buy a GPU, particularly if you're eyeing up one of Nvidia's RTX 5000 models. And with Prime Day about to happen – and early deals already available, in fact – you might want to keep a close eye on potential GPU bargains therein. Any discounted graphics cards could possibly represent the cheapest prices you might see this year, as Black Friday will come too late to avoid what's in the pipeline in terms of price rises, at least in theory.

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• PowerShell 2.0 gets pulled from the latest Windows 11 Insider build
• Versions 5.1 and 7.x are the best replacements
• No word on removal from Windows Server

Microsoft has confirmed PowerShell 2.0 is officially being removed from Windows, starting with the latest Windows 11 Insider builds – Build 27891 (Canary Channel).

The news comes eight years after PowerShell 2.0 was deprecated in 2017 due to dependency-related delays (for example older SQL Server versions), but Microsoft retained backwards compatibility to ease the transition.

It's not to say that PowerShell has gone entirely – instead, users will be directed to version 5.1 (which comes preinstalled on most modern Windows editions) or 7.x (which offer cross-platform support).

PowerShell 2.0 finally steps aside for newer versions

As a reminder of how long PowerShell 2.0 has been around, it originally shipped with Windows 7, Vista and XP, as well as Server 2003 and 2008. Although it's set to be removed with the latest version of Windows 11, Microsoft has not shared any plans to remove it from Windows Server as yet.

"More information will be shared in the coming months on the removal of Windows PowerShell 2.0 in an upcoming update for Windows 11," Windows Insider Program Lead Amanda Langowski and Principal Product Manager Brandon LeBland wrote in a blog post.

The removal of PowerShell 2.0 is the biggest update coming in upcoming versions of Windows 11, but Build 27891 also includes fixes to the 'Reset this PC' option, taskbar acrylic rendering, non-English characters (like Vietnamese and Arabic) and other bugs, including Windows Update getting stuck at 2% on some devices.

Redmond also acknowledged some issues with the update, including a Windows Hello pin and biometrics glitch on Copilot+ PCs and rendering issues for remote desktops on ARM64 machines.

In the meantime, users wanting a more reliable OS can exit the Canary Channel by installing a fresh copy of Windows 11.

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• Foundation star Lee Pace says viewers won't recognize Brother Day in season 3
• Unlike his forebears, the Empire's primary leader has no interest in ruling the galaxy
• Apple's highly-rated space opera returns on Friday, July 11

Foundation season 3's version of Brother Day is a marked departure from the autocratic ruler we've seen in previous seasons. That's according to Lee Pace, who's starred in the Apple TV+ show since the beginning, and who suggested fans will be shocked when they meet this season's take on the character.

Brother Day is one of many seemingly identical clones of Cleon I, the Imperium's first tyrannical overlord, who laud it over the galaxy. However, think back to Foundation season 1 episode 9, and you'll remember Cleon I's DNA was tampered with by galactic rebels, which means his clones become more unique with each generation that passes. Long story short: each clone has their own distinct personalities, ideologies, and agendas.

Where season 3's free-spirited iteration of Day is concerned, he has no interest in ruling alongside this entry's Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) and Brother Dusk (Terrance Mann).

Sure, Day is as self-serving as past iterations but, instead of channeling his energy into maintaining the Empire's grip on the galaxy, Day is only concerned with enjoying life's simple pleasures. That's especially true due to the Imperium's rapidly dwindling influence on the galaxy, which is laid bare in Foundation's season 3 premiere.

It's this slacker persona and Day's garish wardrobe this season that immediately reminded me of The Dude, aka the apathetic protagonist played by Jeff Bridges in 1998 cult classic movie The Big Lebowski.

When I raised this with Pace in a recent interview, he laughed, admitted he could see the resemblance, and then described how he approached this reshaping of Day as an individual.

Events that transpire in season 3 cause Day to leave the sanctity of The Imperium's palace (Image credit: Apple TV+)

"That's always the fun part of the riddle inside this character," Pace said. "They [Dawn, Day, and Dusk] are different people because they've broken out of this construct that they're the same person, so you can really start to develop who they are.

"This season, you've got a Day who thinks he's absolutely unique. He doesn't care [about the Empire] and he resents them all [Dawn, Dusk, and Laura Birn's robot major domo Demerzel]. He's got an emotional detachment from the position he holds and is only interested in pleasure.

"He just wants to be lazy, fat, and happy," Pace continued. "There's something really fun about playing that kind of character at the so-called end of days. The wolf [Empire's possible downfall] is at the door and the Emperor [Day] is so indifferent to it. It cracks me up."

Foundation's third season will premiere on Apple's streaming platform, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on July 11.

Before it does, read my Foundation season 3 review to see what I thought of its first five episodes and then read my ultimate guide on Foundation season 3 for more on its cast, plot, and the sci-fi series' future.

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