Technology

• Russia is considering banning WhatsApp
• The Meta-owned app is the most popular messaging service in the country
• Max, a domestic messaging app integrated with government services, will be installed on every new device from September 2025

People in Russia may soon need to find a replacement for WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app across the country.

Talking to Reuters on Friday, July 18, 2025, the Deputy Head of the Russian parliament's Information Technology Committee, Anton Gorelkin, said that "it's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market," adding that Meta has been designated as an extremist organization in Russia.

On Tuesday, July 22, Russia passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

How likely is WhatsApp to leave Russia?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Russian authorities haven't shared any details on how or when the WhatsApp ban will be enforced.

That said, Meta, the provider behind WhatsApp, has already been designated as an extremist organization, with two of its other services (Facebook and Instagram) being banned since 2022.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, also reiterated the fact that WhatsApp "has certain duties under laws of the Russian Federation" that must be fulfilled – Interfax reported.

Two more government sources have then confirmed to Meduza, a Russian Independent media outlet, that "there’s a 99-percent chance" the WhatsApp block will happen.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin is developing its own messaging app with government services integrated. From September 2025, Max is set to be installed on every device sold in Russia, the Independent reported.

Can a VPN help?

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts users' internet connections while spoofing their real IP address. The latter skill is generally used to bypass this type of internet geo-blocking – something Russian authorities have been trying to prevent for a long time.

From ever-sophisticated VPN blocking tactics, which make many VPN services stop working, the Kremlin even criminalized the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions in March 2024, forcing the likes of Apple to remove some of the best VPN apps from its official App Store.

Now, a new law further complicates things for VPN users. Starting from July 22, there are new penalties for people searching for and accessing "knowingly extremist materials," including when they do that while connected to a VPN.

Furthermore, lawmakers have reportedly also adopted a provision that makes using a VPN to access extremist content – something that WhatsApp may be set to become – "a crime as an aggravating factor."

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• OpenAI figures claim ChatGPT now has 500 million users globally
• Younger workers use it more, but the youngest aren't the biggest users
• OpenAI wants to democratize artificial intelligence and support workers

OpenAI has released new research claiming its AI tools technology is providing major productivity benefits - whilst also recognizing it could majorly disrupt some areas negatively.

This year, ChatGPT has been used by 28% of US adults for work purposes, up from 8% in 2023, suggesting more and more are getting to grips with its productivity and efficiency benefits.

Among its most popular use cases are learning and upskilling (20%), writing and communication (18%), programming, data science and maths (7%), creative ideation, business analytics and even translation.

ChatGPT looks to boost productivity

Interestingly, while we usually see younger generations adopting emerging technologies more quickly, OpenAI revealed that more 25-34-year-old use ChatGPT (32%) compared with 18-24-year-olds (24%), suggesting that generative AI could be more beneficial to slightly more senior positions than entry-level roles.

Lawyers, customer support agents, consultants, government workers and teachers have all reported considerable time savings when using AI.

OpenAI's 'Unlocking Economic Opportunity' paper also claimed AI helps to lower the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship and small businesses, with Y Combinator's 2025 cohort growing at around 10% weekly due to the growing number of AI-first startups.

However, even OpenAI acknowledges AI can bring disruption despite its significant productivity promises.

Claiming it now supports more than 2.5 billion messages per day from 500 million users globally, the company noted it has a responsibility to guide the change – not halt it – by democratizing access, supporting workers and building inclusive systems.

"We’re off to a strong start, creating freely available intelligence being used by more than 500 million people around the world, including 3 million developers," the company wrote.

"OpenAI looks forward to working with policymakers, workers, educators and the public to better understand how AI is changing the economy and ensure that the economic gains that AI brings result in widespread growth and expanded opportunity."

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• The Pro-Ject E.12 turntable costs £249.00 / €329.00
• No Bluetooth, no USB, no phono stage, no automatic operation
• The same core features as more expensive Pro-Ject turntables

Pro-Ject makes some of the best turntables around, and now there's a brand new affordable model designed for buyers on a budget. At just £249 / €329 (about $339) AU$515), it's a very low price for a serious turntable, although you'll need to provide your own phono stage (or an amp with a phono input), which might be a stumbling block for beginners, and perhaps one more cut than is ideal when it comes to features.

The claim is the Pro-Ject E1.2 gets rid of anything that isn't essential, whether that's Bluetooth, USB, any automatic operation, or the phono stage as I mentioned above. The focus is on taking the same core components as Pro-Ject's more expensive turntables and focusing just on the quality of sound-per-pound.

(Image credit: Pro-Ject)Pro-Ject E1.2 turntable: key features

As the name suggests, the E1.2 is an upgrade from the existing Pro-Ject E1 that I really liked in my Pro-Ject E1 review from last year. Its platter is now a 730g die-cast aluminium design with a built-in TPE damping ring, and according to Pro-Ject it delivers more stable rotation and better wow and flutter performance.

The sub-platter comes from the Pro-Ject Debut turntable and is made from glass-reinforced ABS for improved speed control and lower resonance.

The tonearm has a heavy-mass gimbal bearing for smooth movement, and it comes with a carbon-reinforced headshell and a Pick It MM E cartridge, which is a new, low-mass design with a conical diamond stylus and a miniature neodymium magnet. It's factory pre-aligned and apparently delivers precise tracking, smooth tonal balance and reduced distortion.

The E1.2 also has a single-button speed control for 33 and 45rpm, damping feet and OFC cables with gold-plated connectors.

The plinth is a solid, CNC-machined block of rigid composite fiber, and it's finished in a choice of high-gloss black, satin white or walnut.

The Pro-Ject E1.2 launches this month, July 2025. It's going to be a very tempting proposition when it comes to sound at this price, but there might be a bit of a disconnect between it being so affordable and it also not being especially beginner-friendly – we totally understand dropping the digital elements to keep the price down, but lacking a phono stage could trip up a lot of beginners.

Still, those getting back into vinyl might love this budget option, or maybe you're looking for a second turntable for another room – I'm sure it'll find its audience. And for those who do want something with a phono stage, Pro-Ject has a lot of options… in particular, the Pro-Ject E1 Phono might be what you need.

There's no word on a US or Australian launch yet, but it'll definitely be available in the UK this month.

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• Happy Gilmore is the 6th most watched movie on Netflix in the past week
• Fans are streaming the movie ahead of Happy Gilmore 2's release on July 25
• The sequel is yet to receive a Rotten Tomatoes score, but I'm hopeful about it

Happy Gilmore has seen a surge in popularity on Netflix in the week ending July 21 as fans prepare for the release of the sequel, which arrives on July 25.

While the iconic golfing comedy movie hasn't knocked K-Pop Demon Hunters off the top spot, it's still firmly in this week's top 10, taking the sixth spot in the most-watched chart, so it's safe to say everyone looking forward to the return of Adam Sandler's titular character.

It's been 29 years since Happy Gilmore was released but I have high hopes that the sequel is well worth the wait. With some great recurring characters and some new faces, it's certainly shaping up to be good. But will it be a worthy of spot on our best Netflix movies list? Only time will tell.

Why Happy Gilmore 2 seems to be in good shape

I know, it's always anxiety inducing when a sequel is announced. When you love a movie so much it can be difficult to know if a follow-up will be any good, but in my opinion, this movie has the potential to be great.

First of all, it wasn't rushed. They've clearly given this some thought and have decided to bring back Adam Sandler's hockey player turned golfer for another round, almost three decades after the original.

Fans may be disappointed that it's going directly to one of the best streaming services, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be bad. In fact, with Netflix having so many hits over the years, it fills me with a surprising amount of confidence.

Not only that, but the cast list looks amazing. Alongside Sandler we've got the return of Ben Stiller's former orderly Hal, Julie Bowen as PR director Virginia Venit, and of course, Christopher McDonald as the villainous Shooter McGavin. There's some great newcomers like Benny Safdie, Margaret Qualley and Sandler's real-life daughter Sunny, so it's shaping up to be quite the ensemble.

Perhaps I'll eat my words in a few days but if a comedy movie about golf could charm me, someone who hates the sport, I'm sure the sequel can attempt to do the same.

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• AMEOS Group hit by worrying cyberattack
• sensitive patient, employee, and partner information all lost in attack
• Users warned to be on their guard in case of threats or scams

Major European healthcare provider AMEOS Group has confirmed suffering a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive patient, employee, and partner information.

In a short announcement recently published on its website, the company said despite “extensive” security measures, it was unable to prevent a “brief” access to its IT systems.

During that “brief” outing, the attackers stole data belonging to patients, employees, and partners, as well as contact details related to individuals or companies. AMEOS did not discuss the data further, so we don’t know how extensive contact details are, or if healthcare or payment information had been stolen.

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A warning to patients

“It cannot be ruled out that this data could be misused online or made accessible to third parties, potentially to the detriment of those affected,” the company stressed.

We also don’t know how many people are affected by the attack, just yet. However, AMEOS is a rather large healthcare provider, so it’s safe to assume this is a major incident.

The organization counts 18,000 staff members in more than 100 hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes, operating across Central Europe - in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and is one of the largest private hospital groups in the broader DACH region, counting more than 10,000 beds and with annual revenue exceeding $1.4 billion.

It is safe to assume that the numbers of affected individuals will be published after a more thorough investigation.

AMEOS concluded its announcement by saying it took all the usual steps after an incident like this one: it disconnected its networks, shut down its IT infrastructure to contain the damage, brought in third-party IT and forensic experts, reinforced existing security measures, notified the police and relevant government authorities.

Finally, it urged customers to be wary of incoming emails:

“Attackers may use data such as email addresses to involve you in fraud schemes. Please be cautious of unauthorized, excessive, or suspicious-looking advertisements or job offers in your inbox.”

Via BleepingComputer

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• Users are reporting multiple issues with Google smart home gadgets
• Commands aren't working or being responded to slowly
• Most Google Home and Nest devices haven't had updates for years

Have you checked in on your Google Home devices lately? It seems that Google Home and Google Nest gadgets are gradually becoming less reliable and more buggy, and many users are venting their frustrations at Google apparently abandoning the ecosystem.

A lengthy Reddit thread details a long list of problems, as highlighted by an article at Android Authority – an article which itself has dozens of comments bemoaning how unreliable Google smart home devices have become.

The issues listed include commands not working, automations and routines breaking, audio and video streams being unavailable, and devices going offline, not talking to each other, or being very slow to respond – it's not a pretty picture.

One user's lament that "I can only get it to work without some kind of error 25% of time these days" is typical, and many of the people logging complaints say they're planning to switch to different products in the absence of any response from Google.

Where are the new devices?The Enshittification of Google Home from r/googlehome

There aren't many signs of life from the Google Home and Google Nest ecosystem at the moment. The Nest Protect smoke alarm was discontinued in March, and we've not had a new Nest security camera since 2021. For the latest Nest smart speaker or smart display launch you have to go back further, to 2020.

We did get a new Nest Thermostat last August, but it was only made available in the US, and older models are no longer sold in Europe. Add in the increasing number of bugs being reported, and it's understandable that users are upset.

Google does have a track record of getting interested in something and then abandoning it, from Chromecast devices to Google Stadia – which is obviously going to put people off from investing their time and money into whatever Google offers in the future.

Google's latest favorite toy is of course Gemini AI, and it's possible that we'll see new smart home devices with Gemini on board in the future. However, given how little attention Google has recently paid to the hardware it's already got in this category, there'd be no guarantee any new gadgets would be supported in the long term.

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The revamp of AppleCare will also cover older devices that are in good condition, but it may include higher prices for single-device coverage.

• Apple has just announced AppleCare One, a new device protection plan
• The $19.99 a month subscription covers three Apple devices
• The bundle offers Theft and Loss protection for the Apple Watch and iPad

Apple has long offered AppleCare and then AppleCare+, but if you’ve been hoping for a bundle of sorts that covers several devices like on of the best iPhones, an iPad, and a Mac with just one plan, the Cupertino-based tech giant’s latest move will be right up your alley.

The aptly named AppleCare One is a new $19.99 a month subscription that provides everything you’d expect from standard AppleCare+ for three devices – that could be an iPhone, one of the best iPads, and a Mac; or one of the best Apple Watches, an iPhone, and iPad, or really any number of combinations, including the Vision Pro, HomePods, AirPods, and Apple TV streaming boxes.

If you need to cover more than three devices, it’s $5.99 per month to add additional ones.

The idea of the AppleCare One bundle itself is entirely new, and it also ushers in two key changes that are firsts for AppleCare at large. First, Apple will now offer Theft and Loss protection for the Apple Watch and iPad, giving you peace of mind in the event they’re stolen or misplaced. That’s standard with AppleCare One but can now also be added to AppleCare+ for those device types.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Second – and this is the big one – is that you have a much wider time frame to add a device to AppleCare One. Yes, if you get a new iPhone, you can easily add it to your AppleCare One plan and drop the one you trade in or sell. However, you can also add any device that’s in good condition and up to four years old to AppleCare One.

That’s a significant jump from the current 60-day window to enroll in AppleCare, and Apple defines ‘good condition’ as the device being able to be powered on, and being free from scratches for the most part.

You’ll be required to run a diagnostic test on the device, and may need to bring it to an Apple Store location for evaluation. However, if you have an old Mac or iPad that you wish you'd bought AppleCare for, and you don’t want to rely on a third-party, this is pretty stellar news.

(Image credit: Apple)

At launch, AppleCare One is just available in the United States, and Apple isn’t saying anything about an expansion. However, here’s what you get for $19.99 a month for the three devices – and a lot of this should be familiar if you’re currently enrolled in AppleCare.

• Unlimited repairs for accidents, including spills, drops, or other damage
• Unlimited battery replacements for the device
• Theft and Loss protection for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
• 24/7 priority support

That’s a pretty extensive list. Regarding battery replacements, these are offered for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch whenever the battery’s maximum capacity falls below 80%. This is particularly beneficial if you plan to keep your devices for the long haul. AppleCare One is eligible on these devices for as long as they stay on the plan.

Considering the variable costs of enrolling in AppleCare+ and extras like Theft and Loss, AppleCare One aims to make it a bit simpler, and in some cases more affordable – if you’re covering an iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch for $19.99 a month with AppleCare One, that would save you about $5 versus using AppleCare, and it jumps to nearly $10 in savings if you’re covering those three plus an iPad.

You’ll also be able to enroll in AppleCare One directly from your devices in Settings, and when you set up a new device you'll see a splash screen that breaks down the differences between the bundle and AppleCare+, which is still available as an protection plan for individual devices.

There’s no limit to the number of Apple devices you can add to Apple One, but they all must be tied to your Apple ID – meaning no family sharing is offered here. Therefore, you’ll need to pay the AppleCare cost for each Apple account associated with the devices. You can enroll devices in AppleCare One once you've signed up using the digital system, and Apple will also offer enrollment at retail locations in the United States.

(Image credit: Apple)

AppleCare One on paper seems like a really nice, and potentially cost-saving, solution, if you have several devices within the ecosystem and want the protection that Apple Care offers. You could also make the case that it would pay for itself if you qualify for an accidental damage or battery replacement.

If you’re sold, AppleCare One will become available for enrollment and purchase in the United States from July 24.

It might be a solid option if you have an older device that you forgot to enroll in AppleCare, since it extends the coverage from 60 days to four years, and the addition of Theft and Loss coverage for Apple Watch and iPad is certainly anxiety-reducing. The latter will also be available with AppleCare+, either as a new plan or as an upgrade to your existing plan.

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• Windows 11 has a new optional update
• It's a big one, delivering a whole load of new features
• These include an AI agent in Settings, a new quick-recovery option for PCs that won't boot, and added AI features for many Windows 11 apps

Windows 11 has a new update in preview, and it's a hefty download which packs in a lot of features, many of which are AI-related (and for Copilot+ PCs only, with their beefy NPUs).

This is patch KB5062660 for Windows 11 24H2, and it should be noted that this is an optional (preview) update, meaning that it's still in testing, so the various features may still have bugs (install it at your own risk, in other words).

Everything should be fully knocked into shape by the time the full update for August arrives, which is when all these features will be officially deployed (or should be – although some are on a 'controlled rollout', meaning they'll be drip-fed out).

So, with those caveats out of the way, what have we got to look forward to with this optional update (and next month's full upgrade)?

Here's my pick of the top features rolling out with KB5062660 (again, bear in mind that some are for Copilot+ laptops only).

1. AI agent in Settings

The headline functionality here is, sadly for most of us, for Copilot+ PCs only, and it's the addition of the first so-called Windows Agent. This is an AI agent specifically for the Settings app, and it lets you find and manipulate the options you need in a much more convenient way.

Normally, trying to find a setting involves using the search functionality, which can be rather hit-or-miss. With the AI agent, you're essentially getting an intelligent search where you can simply ask a question (in natural language) pertaining to what you're trying to do in Windows 11, and the agent will (hopefully) immediately surface the correct setting.

The AI doesn't just find the right setting for you, but can also make suggestions as to what changes you might want to make as well. Check out the video clip above of the agent in action to get a flavor of how it all works.

This is just rolling out to Arm-based Copilot+ PCs (with Snapdragon CPUs) to start with, but support for AMD and Intel chips is "coming soon" (it's also for the English language only initially).

Suffice it to say this is one of the more impressive uses of AI in Windows 11 I've seen so far, alongside more intelligent Windows 11 search from the desktop (for both Copilot+ laptops, and other PCs too). Yes, Microsoft appears to be progressing overall search capabilities nicely with AI, which is good to see.

(Image credit: Getty Images)2. Click to Do benefits

Click to Do is Microsoft's array of context-sensitive AI-powered options in Windows 11 (for Copilot+ PCs), and a few more shortcuts (for selected text or images) have been added here. That includes a choice to fire up Reading Coach, which is a free app (installed via the Microsoft Store) that aims to help you polish up your reading skills (pronunciation and more besides).

Secondly, Immersive Reader is now in Click to Do, which takes any text and presents it in a "distraction-free environment", allowing you to adjust text size, font, spacing, and a bunch of other parameters to make everything more easily readable. It also helps with reading skills (breaking down words into syllables, providing a picture dictionary, and more).

Draft with Copilot is also now in Word (for Microsoft 365 Copilot subscribers), allowing you to turn a sentence (or short summary) into a lengthy full draft penned by the AI.

(Image credit: xavier gallego morell / Shutterstock)3. Quick recovery from boot failure

Microsoft's Quick Machine Recovery (or QMR) is now arriving for all PCs (not just Copilot+ devices), which is the ability to recover from a problem that means your PC won't boot. This is the nightmare scenario we all dread, and the idea is that you'll be able to get help via the Windows Recovery Environment (which can be accessed if your system won't boot to the desktop).

QMR allows for diagnostic data to be sent to Microsoft and hopefully a patch can be sent back to cure the problem, or that's the idea. Another avenue of troubleshooting – one that's completely automated – is clearly a good idea, and I'm looking forward to seeing how useful this will be. (And I should clarify, I'm keen to see how competent this feature is – not to personally use it, with any luck. We can all hope that it's a screen we don't ever have to visit).

4. Image-related AI powers in Photos, Paint and Snipping Tool

A bunch of new AI-powered functionality for images is now inbound (for Copilot+ PCs), as previously seen in testing. That includes a Relight ability in the Photos app – allowing you to place virtual light sources to change the lighting in an image – and object select in the Paint app, which uses AI to select any given object (so you don’t have to do so manually).

A similar feature to the latter is coming to the Snipping Tool called 'perfect screenshot', which lets you roughly select an area of the screen you want to grab, and then automatically makes a precise crop of that element, taking the pain out of that process. (Again, check the above video to see how this works).

(Image credit: Microsoft)Other moves – including an important fix

There's quite a lot going on with this update, as mentioned, and another development is that Recall is now being deployed in Europe. Previously, this AI-supercharged search (that works using regularly taken screen grabs) wasn't out in the European Economic Area (EEA), but it is now, and it comes with a new ability. This is the option to export its screenshots (called snapshots) to "trusted third-party apps and websites" (wherever you want, basically - should you wish to share this data).

Furthermore, all Recall users are getting a reset button, which deletes all data relating to the feature and restores Recall to its original settings, should you wish to start afresh (or indeed abandon the ability and turn it off).

Also, the Black Screen of Death is now official, so wave goodbye to the blue version that's been with us so long, and say hello to a more streamlined effort whenever your PC is unfortunate enough to witness Windows 11 locking up. (I'm not sure about this change, as I've discussed elsewhere at length recently).

The Gamepad layout in the virtual keyboard for Windows 11 now benefits from "enhanced controller navigation" which includes word suggestions and better handling of menus, as well as the ability to use a gamepad to sign in from the Windows lock screen (via the PIN panel).

Finally, this preview update fixes a problem with the May 2025 update for Windows 11 which caused some PCs to suffer instability issues (crashes). Microsoft says this was a "rare" bug that didn't affect many, but it sounds like a truly nasty one, so having it resolved will doubtless be a relief.

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• New ransomware proposals set to be implemented by UK Government
• These include a ban on ransom payments for public services
• Ransomware attacks cost the UK economy millions per year

A new set of cyber regulations are being introduced by the UK government in a move to protect British public services from the growing threat of ransomware.

Under the new guidelines, public organisations like the NHS, local councils, and schools will all be banned from paying ransom demands - a move which looks to dissuade criminals from targeting public institutions.

“Ransomware is estimated to cost the UK economy millions of pounds each year, with recent high-profile ransomware attacks highlighting the severe operational, financial, and even life-threatening risks,“ the Government’s statement argues.

Criminal business model

Amongst the high-profile attacks on public services in recent times is a ransomware attack on an NHS hospital, the disruptions from which contributed to a patient death - outlining just how damaging and harmful these attacks can be, not just financially but on a personal level too.

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is a multi-million pound industry, and one which preys on vulnerable organisations without premium cybersecurity protections.

Public organisations in the UK with chronic budget restraints are particularly vulnerable, not just because they can’t afford first-rate security, but also because they provide critical services that have devastating impacts if disrupted.

Under the new set of proposals, businesses that are not covered by the ban are required to notify the government if they intend to pay the ransom - giving the government the opportunity to provide them with ‘advice and support, including notifying them if any such payment would risk breaking the law by sending money to sanctioned cyber criminal groups, many of whom are based in Russia.’

“Ransomware is a predatory crime that puts the public at risk, wrecks livelihoods and threatens the services we depend on,“ comments Security Minister Dan Jarvis. “By working in partnership with industry to advance these measures, we are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware.”

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If you’re going to watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps during its opening weekend, you’ll also be able to catch the very first trailer for Avatar 3 (better known as Avatar: Fire and Ash). As if I didn’t think my job could get any better, I was treated to an exclusive first look at what’s to come in the next installment of James Cameron’s smash-hit sci-fi series, in 3D, with a cocktail shaped like a delicious fiery explosion.

It was a similar fanfare for the release of The Way of Water, but I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Objectively, it seemed absurd for a trailer to have its own launch event, but as soon as the lights went down and I put my 3D glasses on, I completely understood why. Even in a matter of minutes, Cameron creates something so majestic, something so beautiful that stops time itself, that you can’t do anything other than sit back in amazement.

Obviously, I’m not going to tell you any specific details about the scenes in the Avatar 3 trailer – you’ll need to trust me when I say you need to see it to believe it. But I can tell you more about what to expect, and when you need to pay extra attention in order to work out what’s to come when the full film is released on December 19, 2025.

The Avatar 3 trailer is going to blow your mind, and the action is about to get a lot darker

Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) in Avatar 3. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Here’s the genius about the Avatar 3 trailer launch. I watched the footage through, in 3D, three times, and I still haven’t got the vaguest idea what the core storyline actually is. Essentially, this means the trailer is functioning as it should, not giving away everything we’re going to see in the full film, but simply alluding to it instead. But even if you can’t remember the ins and outs of Na'vi lore, it only takes a few seconds to work out that the next installment is going to be a lot darker.

As we already know, conflict on Pandora is about to escalate once again, with Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and the rest of the family encountering the aggressive Mangkwan Clan for the first time. They’re the “fire Na'vi,” and they’re viciously on the offensive from the moment they arrive in the trailer. We don’t know what their backstory is or why they have such an issue with outsiders, but as the trailer confirms, the meeting isn’t going to end in flowers and rainbows.

While the two Na'vi clans battle it out, Pandora itself has never looked more jaw-dropping. You can expect some ridiculously beautiful set pieces from Cameron in the trailer, elevating the 3D experience we got back in The Way of Water. It boggles the mind to think how they got there, but somehow, Cameron and his creative team has made something more visually astonishing that anything we’ve ever seen before.

What you need to watch out for

Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar 3. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Even though I was as busy as everyone else getting lost in the wonder of Pandora, there was a particular scene that caught my attention, and potentially has the power to change everything we know about the Avatar franchise. Blink and you’ll miss it, because it’s on screen for less than a full second. Again, no outright spoilers here, but all you need to know is that the only familiar character involved in this fleeting moment is Sully.

From the first Avatar movie, we’ve known there’s a huge human element in Pandora’s world now, and you only need to look at Sully himself to understand how that’s adapted over time. However, it’s easy to forget that presence in Avatar 2, shifting the worldbuilding focus to different Na'vi tribes coming into contact. All I’ll say is that Avatar 3 has the power to bring the Na'vi vs. Na'vi vs. humans hate triangle back into play, all by introducing an entirely new perception of human popular culture into the mix (you’ll know it when you see it, I promise).

If 3D isn’t your thing, you’ll be able to catch the Avatar 3 trailer in full on YouTube from July 28. If you can’t wait that long… I suggest you get yourself down to your local cinema quick sticks.

• Stream all Avatar movies in the US on Disney+
• Stream all Avatar movies in the UK on Disney+
• Stream all Avatar movies in Australia on Disney+

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• Roku Channels adds 17 new channels
• Channels for wellness, reality TV, music, plus MGM's Stargate and American Gladiators
• Ambient TV channels combining visuals and low-key tunes

Roku has announced the addition of 17 new channels to its already huge selection, and that's terrible news for the productivity of home workers like me: there's an entire channel dedicated to American Gladiators, and another for Xena: Warrior Princess.

That's terrible news for my future paychecks but it's pretty good news for Roku subscribers, because the claim that there's something for everyone is actually true here: in addition to Gladiators and Xena, there are gripping documentaries, exciting music, and an entire channel dedicated to dogs.

What new channels is Roku adding?

Roku has already passed the milestone of offering more than 560 channels, and the 17 new additions are (thanks to Cord Cutters News for the channel numbers):

• 204 Swerve Sports: "the best in women’s football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, gymnastics, boxing, rugby and more."
• 205 Team Liquid: esports, with competition and commentary from the popular esports team
• 207 PFL MMA: the Professional Fighters League deliver bone-crunching mixed martial arts
• 329 Xena: dedicated to Xena, Warrior Princess
• 576 Revolt Mixtape: hip-hop, R&B and much more
• 579 Cirque du Soleil: the legendary circus troupe deliver dazzling performances
• 586 Stingray Naturescape: "awe-inspiring landscapes, time lapses of serene night skies, aerial views of lush, tropical beaches, and the cozy glow of crackling fireplaces."
• 587 Zenlife by Stingray: wellness and meditation to help you relax
• 588 Stingray Stargaze: cosmic visuals, starry nights and ambient music
• 589 Stingray Cozy Cafe: lo-fi beats and, er, "inviting coffee shop interiors"
• 590 Stingray Cityscape: awesome aerial views set to down-tempo tunes
• 623 American Gladiators by MGM: MGM's take on Gladiators drew from both the US and UK versions, and was tons of fun
• 635 Paternity Court by MGM: edge-of-the-seat courtroom dramas drawn from real life
• 636 Life Below Zero: stories of surviving in some of the world's harshest environments
• 637 To Catch a Smuggler: real-life stories of law enforcement battling smugglers
• 638 Dog Whisperer by Cesar Millan: how to make bad dogs become perfect pooches
• 748 Stargate by MGM: superb sci-fi spanning the Stargate franchise

Sure, not all of these are going to be up everyone's alley – but I bet there's something there make you raise your eyebrows, even if it's just the idea of being able to watch Cirque du Soleil performers do something mind-blowing any time you feel like it.

The channels should be available right away on Roku TVs (including our favorite, the Roku Pro Series), and Roku devices such as the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which we recently gave a positive review to.

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• Oracle's mystery $30 billion cloud deal is to support OpenAI and Project Stargate
• The project's first site, Stargate I, is already partly operational
• SoftBank, Microsoft and others continue to play a role

After weeks of speculation both with regards to Oracle's mystery cloud deal and potential delays to Project Stargate, OpenAI has confirmed the project is indeed still going ahead.

The deal, worth $30 billion per year, was revealed in a SEC filing by Oracle on June 30, but the company failed to mention who the big contract had been struck with.

We now know the contract involves 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity, which equates to two Hoover Dams' worth of power or the equivalent of four million homes.

OpenAI confirms Stargate is still on

This brings the AI giant's total Oracle data center capacity up to five gigawatts, which is enough to power two million chips.

The huge deal with Oracle marks a major step forward in OpenAI's journey to 10 gigawatts, as outlined in its four-year, $500 billion Project Stargate strategy.

OpenAI confirmed its first site, Stargate I, will be located in Abilene, Texas, with Oracle and OpenAI jointly building it.

According to the company, parts of Stargate I are already operational, with early AI training and inference underway using Nvidia GB200 superchips.

The first site has already generated "thousands" of jobs, with OpenAI hoping to support 100,000 workers as part of the broader scheme.

Responding to reports that discussions had stalled between SoftBank and OpenAI amid disagreements, the ChatGPT-maker confirmed: "Our partnership with SoftBank is moving forward with strong momentum."

"Over the past six months, growing interest in Stargate has helped shape and expand our vision for this effort," OpenAI added. Despite broadening its list of providers and partners, the company added an interesting caveat: "Microsoft will continue to provide cloud services for OpenAI, including through Stargate."

Microsoft used to have exclusivity, but that all changed when OpenAI started to bring other cloud giants onboard.

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Revealed at WWDC 25, macOS Tahoe 26 (which still feels strange to say) is promising big things. For one, there’s another visual refresh to match the Liquid Glass UI design of its OS siblings, transparent widgets and all.

Then there’s third-party Control Center actions support, a phone app, and, uh, Image Playground.

One feature above so many others stood out, though, and that’s the arrival of the Journal app on Apple’s oldest platform.

Day One of Forever

If you’d already assumed Journal was on macOS, then you’re not alone, as I saw a few bemused reactions to the announcement.

You see, Journal began life in iOS 17, and somehow never made it off of the iPhone. While it certainly had its strengths, creating a digital diary required using a fiddly phone keyboard and accessing the photos and videos stored locally on the device.

Ever tried to attach a file from an event to a Journal entry while using an iPhone? It’s not fun, and so my interest waned.

Journal is fine on iOS, but I just don't think phones are well-suited to the journaling process. (Image credit: Future / Apple)

Sure, I could fork out for Day One (and it’s a fantastic app), but I’m not at the point in my journaling journey (try saying that five times fast) where I can reliably use it for any more than a few days of the month, which would render any monthly subscription less than ideal.

Thankfully, macOS getting Journal means that it just got a lot easier to drag and drop to my heart’s content. Pictures and videos of a gig I’ve been to? Easy peasy. A PDF version of an event itinerary I want to look back on? Done, no more fiddly file management.

Then there’s that all-important physical keyboard, which means I’m much more likely to actually jot down some notes about how I’m feeling at the end of the day before I log off.

A different option

At the time of writing, I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to get my brain to jot things down in a Notion template I found online. And yet, when I look, it’s full of half-hearted workout records and random text snippets that are hardly worth keeping.

Sadly, having my journal tied into Notion - an app I use to run my freelance business - means every time I hop in to take some time for myself, I end up finding something I need to work on. After all, time is money, right?

Notion can be a powerful tool for productivity, but not so much for personal use. (Image credit: Future)

Jokes aside, it’s clear I need some sort of delineation between my journaling app of choice and Notion, which is essentially a work tool for me (and somewhere to catalog Magic: The Gathering cards, because a guy needs a hobby).

So could Journal on Mac be that?

But that’s not all!

Completing the home run for the Journal app on Apple platforms, it’s coming to iPadOS, too.

That means I can scribble my recollections in with the Apple Pencil, making it an even easier way to record my day-to-day adventures (that might be overselling sitting at a desk and writing).

It also gave me a great idea to ask my six-year-old son to write a few words every week so I could see his handwriting evolve and improve over time—something simply not possible on Apple’s other platforms.

Will you be giving Journal a go on macOS or iPadOS? Let us know in the comments below. I'm excited to restart my journaling process, and I'm hoping that Apple's signature Journal app will kick-start me into taking it more seriously this time around.

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