TechRadar News

• Startup’s ribbon-based holographic tape promises 200TB per LTO cartridge
• The tech uses polymer film and $5 laser to write optical voxels
• Integrates into LTO systems with no upstream software or hardware changes

UK startup HoloMem is developing a holographic storage system aimed at replacing or supplementing LTO tape.

The company, founded by former Dyson engineer Charlie Gale, uses polymer ribbon cartridges written with $5 laser diodes. Each 100-meter cartridge could store up to 200TB in a write-once, read-many format.

The cartridges match LTO dimensions and work in existing tape libraries without changes to upstream software. Drives function as drop-in shelves, allowing libraries to operate in a hybrid LTO and HoloMem setup.

HO1O

The idea began at Dyson, where Gale helped create a holographic label system called HO1O. It embedded multiple QR codes in a single hologram, readable from different angles or light sources.

“What we originally did at HO1O for prototypes was to use a light-sensitive polymer material that you just exposed to laser light… it locks polymer change and retains that image,” Gale told Blocks & Files.

This concept evolved into multi-layer data storage using similar materials.

Unlike other optical approaches that use glass or ceramics, HoloMem writes data as holographic voxels into polymer film. The film uses a 16-micron thick polymer sheet laminated between PET layers, forming a 120-micron ribbon.

The prototype HoloDrive writes and reads holograms using a 3D-printed lens and a digital micromirror device.

“We are writing data pages of thousands of bits,” Gale said. Throughput hasn’t been disclosed, although it reportedly operates at LTO-9 speeds. The drive uses £30 circuit boards and modified LTO mechanics.

HoloMem has received £900,000 in UK innovation grants and is partnering with TechRe and QStar for field trials and integration testing. It holds patents for the optical engine, media design and volumetric storage method.

Blocks & Files reports: “We understand TechRe will deploy prototype Holodrives inside LTO libraries in its UK data centers to test out the product’s performance, reliability and robustness. HoloMem has written device firmware so that, we understand, it presents itself as a kind of LTO drive.”

Future capacity increases may come through multi-channel recording, using multiple light wavelengths to layer data. Each added channel could multiply storage with no hardware change.

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• A new line of code has been found in the HeyMelody app that suggests the Spotify Tap function could be coming to Oppo and OnePlus earbuds
• Android Authority managed to activate the feature, but it has several setbacks
• We don't know when it could be released, or which OnePlus and Oppo audio accessories will be compatible with Spotify Tap

OnePlus and Oppo are solid audio brands if you’re after a decent pair of mid-range earbuds, and now they could be getting a new handy Spotify integration, which could be a big convenience upgrade for Android users.

A new Android Authority teardown of the HeyMelody app highlights that the Spotify Tap function, which is supported on most audio devices from Sony, Bose, and Jabra, could be coming to OnePlus and Oppo earbuds. For those of you who are unaware, HeyMelody is the native app for setting up OnePlus and Oppo audio tech, similar to Sony’s Sound Connect app.

But what is Spotify Tap? It’s essentially a convenience feature that allows you to play music directly from Spotify by double or triple-tapping compatible audio accessories such as the brand new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. If you’re already an owner of the best headphones and best earbuds alike, you’ll be more than familiar with this function.

As for Android Authority’s findings, the outlet dove into the HeyMelody app v115.8 and found a code related to a possible new integration with OnePlus and Oppo earbuds, and even managed to activate the feature.

(Image credit: Android Authority )

For starters, the teardown shows two different options (double and triple tap) for Spotify music playback in each earbud. The outlet also states that you can redo this gesture so that Spotify plays you a recommended song, but there were a few setbacks.

While Android Authority was able to activate Spotify Tap, the outlet noted that changes to background settings were required to get the options to show, adding that you might only be able to set this feature for one earbud at a time, and not both. However, this is likely to change if Spotify Tap is ever rolled out to OnePlus and Oppo earbuds, it added.

As it stands, the teardown doesn’t explicitly state when this feature could roll out, or which OnePlus and Oppo earbuds will receive the Spotify Tap treatment if it does. According to Android Authority, it wouldn’t be surprising if Spotify Tap is only available to selected upcoming hardware.

In that case, we’re taking this lightly and are waiting to see what other findings emerge – but we’ll certainly have our ears to the ground in the meantime.

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• Google introduces featured notebooks into NotebookLM
• The curated content comes from sites like The Economist and The Atlantic
• You can ask questions about each notebook

Tired of waiting for you to use NotebookLM to make fantastic learning resources of your own, Google has decided to take matters into its own hands and produced a series of carefully curated Notebooks from respected authors, researchers, publications, and nonprofits, including The Economist and The Atlantic.

With NotebookLM, you can read the original source material, but also pose questions to a chatbot that’s versed in the material, so you can explore specific topics in greater depth.

And of course, you can listen to the AI-generated audio overviews, which sound like podcasts, that NotebookLM is famous for, or explore the newer Mind Maps feature.

The initial lineup of curated notebooks includes longevity advice from Eric Topol, bestselling author of Super Agers, expert analysis and predictions for the year 2025 as shared in The World Ahead annual report by The Economist, and an advice notebook based on bestselling author Arthur C. Brooks' How to Build A Life columns in The Atlantic.

As if that wasn’t enough, they’re throwing in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare for anybody who needs help exploring the works of the Bard.

You can expect the list of featured notebooks to grow, too. Google says it will continue to introduce new featured notebooks, including additional collections from its partnerships with The Economist and The Atlantic.

(Image credit: Apple/Google)The books of the future

Google says that since introducing the ability to share notebooks last month, ”more than 140,000 public notebooks have been created, on a wide range of topics”.

I find these featured notebooks dangerous myself because each one is a little rabbit hole I can happily disappear down for over an hour.

For example, I opened the How to Build a Life notebook based on Arthur Brooks' columns in The Atlantic and asked it what age was best to buy a house, and I didn’t emerge for another hour!

It's a different experience from reading a book, as you're constantly switching to an interactive way of consuming media, which makes the learning so much more fun.

Commenting on the new featured notebooks Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic said, "The books of the future won’t just be static: some will talk to you, some will evolve with you, and some will exist in forms we can’t imagine now. We’re delighted to partner with Google in its pioneering work on this front.”

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HBO’s Harry Potter TV show is coming to the small screen in 2027, with filming officially beginning this week. We’ve already had one first look in the form of Dominic McLaughlin’s Harry, and now a second character has followed suit. Nick Frost’s Hagrid has already made waves on the internet, but there’s something important to bear in mind.

Of course, we all love the original cast in the Harry Potter movies, including Maggie Smith (McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Snape), Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) and original Hagrid Robbie Coltrane. Yet the fact remains that in two years time we’ll have a fresh crop of famous faces in these same roles, such as Paapa Essiedu (Snape), John Lithgow (Dumbledore), Nick Frost (Hagrid), and Janet McTeer (McGonagall).

Obviously, the HBO Max version can never replace who came before, and it goes without saying that the new TV show will likely feel completely different. While these are just assumptions at this stage, the first look at Nick Frost’s Hagrid could certainly blur the line between the two in the worst way.

Is Hagrid in the HBO Harry Potter TV show too much like the original movie version?

Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Obviously, the fact that McLaughlin's Harry looks so similar to a young Daniel Radcliffe has gone down incredibly well (including with me), but the similarities in Hagrid’s past and present is slightly more unsettling. Let’s face it – we’re looking at an airbrushed version of the original in this new snap. Of course, this could be hypocritical, but there’s extra context with Nick Frost’s Hagrid.

In an interview with Collider, Frost previously confirmed he was “never” going to try and be a version of Coltrane’s portrayal. “You get cast because you're going to bring something to that. While I'm really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie [Coltrane]'s amazing performance, I'm never going to try and be Robbie. I'm going to try and do something, not ‘different,’ I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia,” he said.

With this in mind, I wasn’t expecting Hagrid’s physical appearance to be so similar? It’s expected character descriptions will play by the book’s rules, but that doesn’t mean the TV show has to copy exactly what we saw in the movie. Arabella Stanton (Hermione) and Paapa Essiedu (Snape)’s castings are great examples of this, as is the cast of hit Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

There’s no question that I’m running before I can walk with my assessment here, but I do think the physical similarity is a hindrance rather than a help. Hagrid is arguably the most beloved adult character of the bunch, so we’ll have the highest expectations for him. Stick an identical wig and a massive beard on him, and Frost is instantly lost in Coltrane’s shadow. Clearly the differences in Hagrid will come through in his personality, but is that enough of a difference? Is there enough of a reason to reboot Harry Potter at all?

“I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait. He's funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That's what I'm planning on doing.”

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• A Nintendo Switch 2 owner was reportedly banned after playing legitimate second-hand games that were later found to be cloned
• Reddit user 'dmanthey' says they were able to reverse the ban after speaking to Nintendo
• Nintendo has been cracking down on piracy by restricting consoles caught using piracy tools

A Nintendo Switch 2 owner is warning players about buying pre-owned physical games after being banned for unknowingly playing cloned versions.

Last month, it was reported that Nintendo was cracking down on piracy and had begun blocking access to online services on the Switch 2 if players were caught using MIG Flash, a tool used to create copies of games.

But it seems that even innocent players aren't safe from the company's strict anti-piracy policy.

As reported by IGN, Redditor 'dmanthey' shared a post saying that they were banned by Nintendo after loading up some original Switch games they bought from Facebook Marketplace.

The user explained that although the physical copies were legitimate, they later discovered that the games had already been copied by the original owner, which was the reason their console was restricted.

"Switch 2 users - be careful buying used Switch 1 games. You can get banned if a bad actor dumped it," 'dmanthey' said. "Got banned and unbanned after simply downloading patches for 4 Switch 1 games I bought from Facebook marketplace."

Dmanthey explained in the thread that they unknowingly played original Switch cartridges that were cloned using a piracy-enabling device.

"Basically, a thief buys/rents a game. They make a copy for themselves using the MIG dumper," the user said. "They resell the original game and keep a copy for themselves on their MIG. Then both of you get banned when the Switch 2 goes online. Only one of you has the carts, so that's the person that will be unbanned."

Thankfully, dmanthey was able to get unbanned after speaking to Nintendo's customer service and providing evidence of their purchase and conversation from the Facebook Marketplace seller.

"I contacted Nintendo support and found out I was banned," they said. "They had me pull up the Facebook Marketplace listing and take some pics of the cartridges. The whole process was painless and fast."

'Dmanthey' added, "The amount of info they had is crazy".

"They could see my ddwrt endpoints, the brand of my memory card, they even knew that I had an EVGA mouse and keyboard plugged into my Switch 2," they continued.

Another user was faced with a similar situation last month after they purchased pre-owned Switch 2 from Walmart, only to find that it had been 'bricked' by Nintendo after booting it up.

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• Nvidia could soon resume selling H20 chips in China
• CEO Jensen Huang has liaised with China and the US
• The company lost billions in sales as a result of export bans

Nvidia is planning to resume sales of its H20 AI chips to China after the US government confirmed it would grant the tech giant export licenses.

The move comes after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's visit to China and his discussions with US President Donald Trump, all in a bid to reach an agreement and resume sales.

As a result, it's believed that Chinese companies like ByteDance and Tencent are now lining up to place orders on H20 chips after a brief pause to exports.

Nvidia could resume Chinese exports soon

Nvidia had already custom-designed the H20 chip for China after US export restrictions, but it was banned in April 2025, leading to an estimated cost of $10-15 billion in lost sales and a further $5.5 billion in inventory write-offs. The costs were so significant that Nvidia declared these losses in its quarterly earnings report.

The potential approval of licenses by the US government could reverse charges, bringing in an additional $15-20 billion in revenue this year.

However, Trump isn't necessarily expressing a preference for Nvidia. AMD is also expecting review of its export licenses for MI308 chips after reporting a smaller but still noteworthy $1.5 billion impact from export curbs.

Although domestic competition has heated up in China, many firms still prefer Nvidia for its CUDA ecosystem. Huang also acknowledged the importance of China to Nvidia's strategy, calling the market "massive, dynamic, and highly innovative" (via Reuters).

The potential easing of restrictions comes at an important time – China also eased rare earth export restrictions, suggesting the two global superpowers could be slowly reaching an agreement.

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• A 'bioinspired super-adhesive filter' has been tested by Korean scientists
• It uses oil, mimicking 'mucus-coated nasal hairs' for better filtering of dust
• Your PC could be a lot more dust-free in the future as a result, if this ever comes to fruition with mesh case filters

The dust filters that aim to prevent particles from getting inside your desktop PC or laptop could take a big leap forward in the future, thanks to an invention that models itself after the human nose.

The 'bioinspired super-adhesive filter' has been tested by Korean researchers, and it's essentially an oil-coated mesh that more effectively stops dust, or other infiltrating particles, in their tracks.

A paper in the journal Nature, authored by scientists from Chung-Ang University in South Korea (as highlighted by Tom's Hardware), explains that the invention is "inspired by the natural filtration abilities of mucus-coated nasal hairs," which doesn't evoke the most pleasant of images.

The reality is that it's a 'biomimetic filter' featuring a thin liquid coating, and just as with nasal hairs, that liquid helps to trap invading particles more effectively, as they stick to it. Or as the paper puts it: "When PM [particulate matter] encounters the mucus, a meniscus forms, generating strong adhesion by capillarity."

The result of this oil-based filter mimic should be a more dust-free computer. And while the researchers are primarily targeting the likes of household or industrial air filtration systems, the tech could be applied to anything where a dust filter is needed, including the humble PC.

The filters use a "thin, uniform silicone oil layer" which is sprayed on, and they capture significantly more particles than traditional efforts, and are effective for 2-3x longer, we're told.

To extend their usable lifespan, the filters can be washed, dried, and the oil reapplied by simply spraying it on (with a non-toxic oil obviously being used).

Analysis: maybe snot

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Should we prepare ourselves for the Cooler Master Mucus 5N0T PC case, then? Well, maybe not, but this innovation could have serious benefits for the world of computers.

There's a balance required with the typical desktop PC case or laptop chassis, in that they need plenty of vents to keep the components inside cool. However, a lot of space for air to move through for cooling means a lot more dust potentially enters the PC.

Traditional meshes try to capture that dust, but don't always do much of a good job. Sure, they help, but if you look inside your PC (through the glass window on the side, if it has one), you may notice it's pretty dusty in there.

After a few years, dust can accumulate in a considerable quantity, particularly around the CPU fan and likely the graphics card as well, if you don't clean inside your PC case. And let's be honest, most of us are way too good at procrastinating when it comes to that kind of PC housekeeping (I know I am).

New filters that rely on oil could be a real boon in terms of keeping your PC a lot more dust-free throughout its lifespan, perhaps eliminating the need for any cleaning at all one day - or at least making this chore a far more infrequent task.

If all this talk has inspired you to clean up your PC, do so very carefully (using a can of compressed air), and make sure you look at some good advice on how to carry this out properly (without damaging fans). That's especially the case with laptops, and I wouldn't recommend trying to open a notebook case, in order to clean inside, to anyone but the most tech-savvy readers.

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• Security researchers spotted 67 malicious packages on npm
• The packages are part of the Contagious Interview campaign
• They are most likely deployed by North Korean attackers

North Korean hackers have been seen pushing dozens of malicious packages to npm in an attempt to compromise western technology products through supply chain attacks.

Cybersecurity researchers Socket claim the latest push of 67 malicious packages is just the second leg of a previous attack, in which 35 packages were published, as part of a campaign called Contagious Interview.

"The Contagious Interview operation continues to follow a whack-a-mole dynamic, where defenders detect and report malicious packages, and North Korean threat actors quickly respond by uploading new variants using the same, similar, or slightly evolved playbooks," Socket researcher Kirill Boychenko said.

Thousands of victims

Uploading malicious code to npm is just a setup. The real attack most likely happens elsewhere - on LinkedIn, Telegram, or Discord. North Korean attackers would pose as recruiters, or HR managers in large, reputable tech companies, and would reach out to software developers offering work.

The interview process includes multiple rounds of talks and concludes with a test assignment. That test assignment requires the job seeker to download and run an npm package, which is where the person ends up with a compromised device. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that other people couldn’t accidentally download tainted packages, as well.

Cumulatively, the packages attracted more than 17,000 downloads, which is quite the attack surface.

North Koreans are infamous for their fake job and fake employee scams, whose goals usually vary between cyber-espionage and financial theft. If they’re not stealing intellectual property or proprietary data, then they’re stealing cryptocurrencies which the government uses to fund the state apparatus and its nuclear weapons program.

The campaigns deploy all sorts of malware, from the BeaverTail infostealer, across XORIndex Loader, HexEval, and many others.

"Contagious Interview threat actors will continue to diversify their malware portfolio, rotating through new npm maintainer aliases, reusing loaders such as HexEval Loader and malware families like BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret, and actively deploying newly observed variants including XORIndex Loader," the researchers concluded.

Via The Hacker News

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• Many developers report saving time when using AI to improve code
• Searching for information still needs to be addressed in AI tools
• Developers and leaders need to collaborate on solutions

New Atlassian research suggests that generative AI is indeed helping boost productivity among developers, saving two in three (68%) an average of more than 10 hours per week and helping to improve code quality and build new features.

This is up from less than half (46%) last year, with Atlassian indicating that the time that's being saved through AI is now being reinvested into improving code and building new features, resulting in a net gain for companies.

However, it's not all roses, because every force is met with an equal and opposite force – many developers are reporting that AI is actually costing them time.

AI on the whole is beneficial to developers

According to the study, one in two developers report losing 10+ hours per week due to inefficiencies, like searching for information, suggesting that artificial intelligence isn't actually helping to improve productivity in some areas, or for some roles. As many as 90% report losing 6 hours per week due to fragmented workflows and poor collaboration.

Difficulties finding information, a lack of clear direction from leaders and poor collaboration with other teams were highlighted as three of the biggest contributors to poor productivity.

"This pressure-cooked mix of innovation and strain demands a closer look at how AI is reshaping the developer experience, and what that means for the future of software development across the industry," Atlassian CTO Rajeev Rajan explained.

The report also uncovered a clear disconnect between AI-powered tools and the tools that workers actually need. Although most solutions cater to coding, this only accounts for an estimated 16% of a developer's working week, with as much as 84% of time spend on tedious tasks.

Looking ahead, Atlassian calls for closer collaboration and communication between developers and leadership to identify friction points.

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• The new RX1R III has the same high-resolution 61MP sensor as the A7R V and A7C R
• Like them, it also has the latest Bionz XR processor and AI autofocus skills
• It features the same Zeiss 35mm f/2 Lens as its 10-year-old predecessor

*This is a breaking news story. We'll be updating this page as we get more information

Sony dropped a huge surprise today by unveiling the RX1R III, a third instalment in its line of high-resolution full-frame premium compact cameras.

I'm shocked because the RX1R III comes 10 years after the RX1R II, without so much of a whisper leaked, and such a lengthy gap between cameras is practically unheard of.

That said, premium compacts such as the Fujifilm X100VI have enjoyed a surge in popularity, so it's understandable that Sony has revived the series. And it's done so with its latest tech – this is no mere refresh of a 10-year-old model. No, the RX1R III features the same 61MP sensor, Bionz XR processor and AI processing chip for subject detection autofocus as the A7R V and A7C R.

Paired with Sony's super-sharp Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 lens – that's the exact same optic as the one found in the RX1R II – you have what looks like the ultimate everyday camera for reportage, street, travel photography and more.

Here's the rub – the RX1R III costs $5,098 at B&H Photo with pre-orders available. (UK and Australia pricing TBC). That's quite the price hike from the RX1R II, which was announced in October 2015 for $3,299. It's certainly not just inflation.

That price point pitches the RX1R III against the Fujifilm GFX100RF and a little under the Leica Q3, and more than double the price of the Fujifilm X100VI.

I expect Sony's latest premium compact to have the advantage over these rivals in a few areas, namely performance and autofocus skills. However, the competition is much stiffer 10 years down the line than it was for the RX1R II.

We're yet to get our hands on the Sony RX1R III, but we'll be sure to do so and give it a proper test: it could become our top premium compact camera pick.

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• South Park has been removed from Paramount+ outside of the US
• The change came amid a licensing dispute between the show's creators and Paramount Global
• Thankfully, fans outside of the US can still stream the series elsewhere

South Park fans outside of the US were devastated to learn that all 26 seasons of the beloved animated comedy series have been removed from Paramount+ without warning.

With so many of the best streaming services to navigate, it can be hard when titles seem to jump between libraries. In the case of South Park, it is no longer available to stream on Paramount+ in places outside of the US, such as the UK, Canada, Australia and more, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

What is even more confusing is South Park specials, such as the Paramount+ original South Park: Post COVID and South Park: The Streaming Wars, are still available on Paramount+ and will remain on the service as it has the international licensing rights.

The sudden change comes amid an ongoing dispute between South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Comedy Central’s parent company, Paramount Global, following the expiration of the streamer's global licensing rights for the series.

South Park has been removed from Paramount+ worldwide out of nowhere. The specials still remain on the site, the series itself does notWell... that can't be good. pic.twitter.com/dmL4Ut433GJuly 12, 2025

Responding to the news on social media, fans were furious about the decision as many had relied on the streamer to watch the long-running comedy and now didn't feel like their Paramount+ subscription was worth it. Indeed, one user decided to cancel their subscription outright (see the post on X below).

I cancelled my subscription today lol.July 14, 2025

Where can we watch South Park?

(Image credit: South Park Studios/Comedy Central)

This question is more complicated to answer than you might like, but I have good news. You can stream it outside of Paramount+, but it varies depending where you are in the world.

Those in the US can still watch the series on Paramount+, of course. But they also have the option to stream all 26 seasons on HBO Max. According to Deadline, this licensing deal should remain in a "non-exclusive basis" but that's not yet been agreed upon between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global so has the potential to change. In the US, South Park is also streaming on Fubo, Philo and YouTube TV.

Elsewhere, fans in Canada can catch it on Pluto TV for free, while UK viewers can watch it on NOW TV, which has a 7-day free trial if you're not a subscriber. As for Australian viewers, you can still stream the series on channel 10's streaming service.

For fans of the hit animation series, news about its removal from Paramount+ is a blow but at least South Park is still widely available to stream in the US, UK and Australia.

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• “Summer Update” firmware adds battery life boost and improvements to exposure and low-light performance
• ND filters, Ultra Battery and custom-designed lenses now available
• Plus a suite of enhancements for motorcycle riders

I’m a huge fan of the Insta360 X5, calling it the “best overall 360 camera currently on the market” in my review from earlier this year. Its large image sensors make it the first 360 camera I’d be happy to use at night, its lenses are tougher than ever (and easier than ever to replace if you do damage them) and its simple controls and AI-assisted editing make it a joy to use.

But Insta360 isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to the X5. Hot on the heels of the impressive Insta360 Mic Air, the wireless microphone add-on announced a few weeks ago, the company has just launched a “Summer Update” for the camera, comprising not only a major firmware update but a range of new accessories and even a new special limited edition of the camera for motorcyclists. The upshot seems to be that the best 360 camera is about to get even better.

(Image credit: Insta360)

Let’s start with the firmware update. Firstly, it boosts battery life by adding the power-saving Endurance Mode to 8K recording (which increases battery life to “just under two hours” of continuous recording) and improving Endurance Mode performance for 5.7K recording (increasing recording time from 185 minutes to 208 minutes when shooting at 5.7K 24p).

It also brings in a new feature called AdaptiveTone, designed to improve exposure in tricky lightning situations where part of the scene is very dark and part is very bright – such as shooting from a shady interior into a sunlit exterior. Previously, the X5 used the same lighting data for both lenses, but AdaptiveTone records it independently, automatically balancing the exposure, preserving both highlight and shadow detail and keeping things looking natural. It sounds a little like HDR, which the X5 already offers, so I’m eager to test it out and see what it can do above and beyond that.

The third and final headline improvement is that PureVideo, Insta360’s low-light video mode, is now available when using the X5’s single-lens mode. It was previously only available for 360 video, so this feels like a correction that brings the single-lens mode into line with its dual-lens counterpart.

New Insta360 X5 hardware coming too

Insta360 is also launching a raft of new accessories for the X5, starting with a set of ND filters – the first designed specifically for a 360 camera. The X5 ND Filters Set contains three pairs of filters (ND16, ND32 and ND64), giving users more control over exposure on bright, sunny days. These can be attached to the X5’s lenses in the same screw-on way as the lens guards, and should enable motion blur for fast-moving footage.

There’s also a new X5 Custom Replacement Lens Kit, which features artwork displayed on the lenses. Users can upload their own patterns, use pre-made patterns or use AI to create them. This seems merely cosmetic.

Insta360 has also launched a new Ultra Battery for the most demanding of users. With 2,800mAh capacity, it adds about 17% extra runtime to the X5, taking it to just under four hours when recording at 5.7K 24p quality using Endurance Mode. The Ultra Battery costs $49.99 (UK and Australia price TBC).

The final new accessory announced is the Invisible Dive Case Pro, which offers better optical quality than the existing X5 dive case as well as buoyancy control, which allows users to keep the camera floating in place underwater. There’s no release date for this yet, but it should be coming soon.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Alongside the Summer Update, Insta360 also announced a new BMW Mottorad Edition of the Insta360 X5. This limited-edition bundle, aimed at motorcyclists, features a different design, Ultra Battery and Mini Remote allowing riders to control the camera without taking their hands off the handlebars.

It also comes with some motorcycle-specific software enhancements, which I suspect will be rolling out to all Insta360 X5 cameras with the above firmware update. Immersive Shake Stabilization is a new mode of image stabilization that preserves some natural shake and tilt, in order to add some sense of speed and terrain, while Plate Blur will automatically blur out your bike’s license plate in footage. There’s also integration for Sena headsets.

All of the above seem set to cement the Insta360 X5 as the best all-round 360 camera on the market – for now, at least. With the GoPro Max 2 teased and DJI reportedly preparing its own Osmo 360 camera for launch, there could be other strong contenders on the market by the end of this summer.

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• Russia is shifting its target to the UK
• The UK is sustaining consistent cyberattacks
• Cyberattacks are aimed at creating chaos and disrupting services

Putin’s focus has taken away from the US in order to avoid antagonizing the Trump administration, reports the Times. Earlier this year, it was reported that a major Russian hacking group shifted its focus from US to UK targets, so it seems the Kremlin is now following suit.

British government sources have described a ‘surge’ in hybrid attacks since the start of 2025, including cyberattacks looking to sabotage critical infrastructure, such as previously observed mapping of undersea fiber optic cables.

Trump’s more favorable attitude towards Russia in comparison to previous administrations has pushed Russia to pivot more harshly against Britain, with UK spy chiefs warning that key facets of national infrastructure are sustaining continued attacks from Russian state-sponsored threat actors.

Sustained attacks

Russian threat actor offensives aim to create ‘sustained mayhem on British and European Streets’ says Sir Ken McCallum, director-general of MI5. Russian actors have successfully disrupted and damaged services in Ukraine, and have flexed capabilities through attacks in energy, agriculture, retail, and more - dealing demoralizing blows to the Ukrainian military and people.

A senior government official told the Times; “It’s been really evident from Russia’s recent propaganda that we’re target No 1,” the official said. “If only the British state was as powerful as they claim.”

These attacks could cause untold damage should a more powerful hit land on a UK target. For example, if a healthcare organization or energy provider was taken offline, that could have immediate and life threatening consequences.

Another Whitehall insider told the publication: “But when we say indirect, it’s not as indirect as it sounds. Russia will, for instance, create software, pass it on to a group of seriously talented 18-year-old hackers and say ‘fill your boots’.”

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• Samsung might have an all-new S Pen up its sleeve
• A company exec revealed Samsung is developing a new S Pen
• It will only return when the device is just right, and if enough people want it

The S Pen is dead, long live the S Pen? Yes, while Samsung’s stylus has skipped the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, it might not be goodbye forever – be that a return in future generations or a return for the Z Fold 7 itself.

That’s according to comments made by Samsung’s own Kang Min-seok – its head of smartphone product planning – to Korean outlet ETNews. He explained that Samsung is “researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen” (machine translated from Korean).

Adding that the S Pen will potentially return “when the level of perfection increases and there is consumer demand.”

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

This could align with Samsung’s HiDeep partnership. The pair is said to be working on an S Pen which doesn’t require a digitizer or an internal battery – combining the best of both the batteryless S Pen and the digitizer-less Apple Pencil (via SamMobile).

A new stylus design could explain why Samsung removed the digitizer from its Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. If it was hoping to have the next-gen S Pen ready for the Z Fold 7’s launch, then why would it burden its foldable with a soon-to-be-useless component?

The fact that it isn’t here yet suggests the stylus might have been delayed, or it could be that Samsung is simply holding off until its S26 Ultra launch to introduce a new S Pen to the world. However, that leaves a frustrating 6-month or so long gap for Z Fold 7 users to suffer without a stylus.

Alternatively, tying into the other aspect of Samsung’s comment, it could simply be that the S Pen wasn’t popular enough with the Z Fold line to warrant continued support. And while I’ve never felt the need to use a stylus, that seems as much Samsung’s decision as it is mine.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Samsung doomed the S Pen

If commenters online are to be believed, the Z Fold 7’s tremendous faux pas is enough to kill the foldable outright, but as an avid Z Fold 6 user, I think reports of the Z Fold 7’s death are greatly exaggerated.

I never felt the need to use an S Pen, and I don’t expect I’ll miss it now.

If I ever needed to scribble notes or annotate, I could use my index finger, which was always quick and accurate enough for short annotations. Alternatively, I could type out my annotation – either in full, using swipe to type, or speech-to-text to speed things up.

Perhaps this wasn’t wholly my decision, however, because the main factor in my S Pen usage decision isn’t that I don't want to use one, it’s that I don’t own one.

The Z Fold line didn’t come with an S Pen like Samsung’s Ultra phones, meaning you had to buy the stylus separately. Moreover, you’d need to find your own storage solution for the S Pen, and according to user reviews on Samsung’s website, its official S Pen Z Fold 6 case is beyond terrible.

So if S Pen usage is low on Samsung’s foldables, I’m hardly surprised.

(Image credit: Samsung)

It’s impossible to know how popular the rumored revamped S Pen will be. While many are disappointed by the Z Fold 7’s lack of a stylus, how many of them were ever really planning to buy the foldable, and would a new and improved stylus change their decision?

I’ll never say no to a revamp, but the real change I want to see is Samsung’s next foldable dropping with the stylus in the box. That would make it a true Ultra equivalent as Samsung has promised for the Z Fold 7.

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• Sony Santa Monica's next game is reportedly the studio's "next big thing"
• Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier responded to speculation, claiming that the studio's new game isn't a new IP, "but might feel like one"
• Schreier also claimed that the sci-fi game rumors are not true

The next game from God of War developer Sony Santa Monica reportedly won't be a new IP, "but might feel like one".

That's according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier (via Eurogamer), who responded to speculation on ResetEra after initially writing about the studio's next project.

"Cory Barlog’s game is Sony Santa Monica’s next big thing," Schreier said. "Last time I spoke to anyone about it (a month or two ago) it was going well."

After sharing this tidbit, fans went on to theorize that the game could be a new IP, which Schreier has now denied.

"I'll put it this way: it's not a new IP but it might feel like one," Schreier explained. "Maybe that's why people are confused. Please don't ask me more questions about this - if I wind up reporting more information at any point in the future it'll be in an article, not on a forum."

There's also been speculation over the years that Cory Barlog, the director of God of War, will be making a sci-fi game next at Sony Santa Monica, but Schreier claims that this isn't correct

"And that the sci-fi stuff (that people have apparently believed for years now?) is nonsense," he said.

Rumors of Sony Santa Monica developing a new IP sprang up last year, but there's no official word from the studio on what it's currently working on.

A third God of War game is also a possibility, but the studio hasn't confirmed if it plans on continuing the series after launching God of War Ragnarok in 2022.

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DCU Chapter One is officially up and running. After the release of Creature Commandos season 1 and Superman, James Gunn and Peter Safran's new-look cinematic universe has taken its first steps into the big, wide world. With both projects being well received, the DC Universe (DCU) has gotten off to a good start, too.

"But, what's coming next?", I hear you ask. Allow my expert guide to, well, guide you. Below, I've rounded up the biggest and latest news on all of the new movies and HBO Max shows that'll be part of DCU Chapter One, otherwise known as 'Gods and Monsters'. You'll learn more about any confirmed launch dates, cast details, trailer, plot specifics, and much more from this point on. So, hop to it, DC Comics aficionado!

DCU Chapter One full line-up

In January 2023, Gunn revealed the DCU Chapter One's full line-up. In total, 11 projects – five movies and six TV shows – were announced, but a few more have joined the party in the two-plus years since the initial reveal. You can read more about some of the most recent changes in my article covering six big takeaways about Gunn's latest major update on the DCU.

But I digress. Here's a quick rundown of every DCH Chapter One film and TV series that's confirmed to be in development, alongside any official release dates that have been announced:

• Peacemaker season 2 (TV show, August 21, 2025)
• Lanterns (TV show, expected early 2026 (date TBC))
• Supergirl (movie, June 26, 2026)
• Clayface (movie, September 11, 2026)
• The Authority (movie, TBC)
• The Brave and the Bold (movie, TBC)
• Booster Gold (TV show, TBC)
• Creature Commandos season 2 (TV show, TBC)
• Paradise Lost (TV show, TBC)
• Sgt Rock (movie, TBC)
• Superman sequel (movie, TBC)
• Swamp Thing (movie, TBC)
• Waller (TV show, TBC)
• Wonder Woman (movie, TBC)

DCU Chapter One: confirmed release dates and launch windowsPeacemaker season 2

Release date: August 21, 2025
Director: James Gunn
Main cast: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Freddie Stroma, Tim Meadows, Frank Grillo, Sol Rodriguez, Michael Rooker, Robert Patrick, and Viola Davis

Although it originally existed in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, season 2 of Peacemaker will sit under the DCU banner. Its plot will explain how the titular anti-hero crosses over into Gunn and Safran's rebooted cinematic franchise, too.

Peacemaker season 2 will launch this August and, after its first footage arrived as part of a new on HBO Max in 2025 trailer, the forthcoming season's first official teaser (see above) arrived in May. A new trailer should be released in late July, too, following its possible world premiere at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.

As well as the above actors confirmed to appear, one of the best HBO Max shows' second season will also feature the return of other season 1 characters, plus some metahumans who showed up in Superman. For more details, read my guide on what we know so far about Peacemaker season 2.

Lanterns

Lanterns is expected to be released in 2026 (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

Release window: expected early 2026
Directors: James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov
Confirmed cast: Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Nathan Fillion, and Jason Ritter

Lanterns, a Green Lantern TV show that was officially greenlit in June 2024, is expected to arrive in early 2026. Lanterns' creative team was revealed last May, with one particular addition being a perfect fit for its crime thriller tendencies.

Principal photography began in late February 28 and was marked by the first official image of Pierre's John Stewart and Chandler's Hal Jordan (see above). Its filming midpoint was reached in June, so it could be September or October before its shooting schedule wraps.

Fillion, who appeared in Superman as another Green Lantern named Guy Gardner, will have a big supporting role. Meanwhile, Ritter, whose character identity is unknown, has confirmed he's part of the cast.

Little is known about its plot, but here's a brief synopsis, courtesy of HBO: "The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland."

Supergirl

Milly Alocck will play Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in the Kryptonian's first solo film in 40-plus years (Image credit: James Gunn/Twitter)

Release date: June 26, 2026
Director: Craig Gillespie
Confirmed cast: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, and Jason Momoa

Supergirl, which was originally called Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow until James Gunn confirmed its name change in June, will be the first solo big-screen outing for Superman’s cousin since the Helen Slater-starring 1984 movie.

House of the Dragon alumnus Milly Alcock will star as the titular hero, with that confirmation coming days after Gunn whittled down his Supergirl cast list to two stars in January 2024.

Krypto will co-star after appearing in Superman, while 3 Body Problem's Eve Ridley will play Ruthye Marye Knoll. Momoa will play Lobo, a fan-favorite immortal mercenary in DC Comics and Schoenarts is on board as primary villain Krem. The Hollywood Reporter (THR) also suggests David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham have been cast as Kara's Kryptonian parents.

For more on the next DCU Chapter One movie to be released, read my guide on everything we know so far about Supergirl.

Clayface

A Clayface movie is in development and should be released in late 2026 (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: September 11, 2026
Director: James Watkins
Confirmed cast: Tom Rhys Harries

Billed as a low-budget horror film – THR claims it'll have a $40 million budget – Clayface has been written by horror auteur Mike Flanagan. It'll be directed by Speak No Evil's James Watkins and an unlikely star in Tom Rhys Harries has been cast in the titular role.

Filming is rumored to begin in August (per The Wall Street Journal) on a film centered around one of Batman's many iconic villains. No plot details have been divulged but, speaking to ComicBook.com, Flanagan says it's been inspired by one of Batman: The Animated Series' best episodes.

DCU Chapter One: movies in developmentThe Authority

DC Comics describe The Authority as the anti-Justice League (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Expected cast: Maria Gabriela de Faría

DCU Chapter One is still expected to introduce The Authority, a lesser known team of antiheroes who feel right up Gunn’s street. However, at a DCU press event in February, Gunn said progress is slow on this one, adding: "(It’s) the one that got messed with through all of the other things that were happening. The script had a harder time coming along". It's possible, then, that this movie might not get made.

If it is, it'll be based on Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch's comic series (released via DC’s Wildstorm imprint) and focus on the eponymous group who are prepared to use any means necessary to save the day. De Faría should feature as Angela Spica/The Engineer following her appearance in Superman, but no-one else has been cast.

The Brave and the Bold

The Brave and the Bold's Robin won't be the easiest Boy Wonder to live with (Image credit: DC Studios)

Release date: TBC
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: TBC

Based on Grant Morrison’s popular graphic novel namesake, The Brave and the Bold's movie adaptation – one of TechRadar's most anticipated DCU Chapter One projects – will see Bruce Wayne teaming up with his violent and narcissistic son Damian, a teen raised by assassins who goes on to become Bat-sidekick Robin.

The Flash’s Andy Muschietti will direct it and, while a writer has been found, Gunn reportedly doesn't want to publicly name them due to the intense media spotlight that'll be shone on them. However, Gunn recently said that he thinks "he has a way in" on the movie's script and that Gunn himself is actively involved in shaping its story (per Total Film).

Swamp Thing

The Swamp Thing comics have previously been adapted into movies, a cartoon, and a short-lived 2019 TV show (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

The brainchild of Wolverine creator Len Wein, Swamp Thing's comic series tells the story of brilliant scientist Alec Holland, who finds his consciousness merged with a bog after an attack on his research facility.

This new take on the character is still being written by James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). However, Safran has said "the ball is really in his [Mangold's] court" about whether he wants to continue working on it.

Sgt Rock

Sgt. Rock has been put on the backburner at DC Studios (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

After making his DCU debut in Creature Commandos episode 3, Sergeant Rock was reportedly getting a standalone movie.

Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino was set to direct it and Challengers' Justin Kuritzkes was said to be penning its screenplay. Colin Farrell wa reportedly in talks to star (via THR), too.

“What we love about Sgt Rock is the opportunity to tell a story about heroism and conflict in compelling and unique way," Safran said the February press event. "Justin really wrote a wonderful screenplay and that’s what catapulted that project to the forefront."

Since then, confusion has reigned over Sgt Rock's status amid contrasting reports about whether it'll be made. Neither Gunn or Safran have publicly said if it's still in active development so, unless we're told otherwise, we'll assume it is.

Superman 2

Gunn is already planning a follow-up to this year's Superman, but it won't be a direct sequel (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Likely cast: David Corenswet

A follow-up to Gunn's Superman movie is already being worked on by the DC Studios co-chief. However, Gunn has regularly hinted that it won't be a direct sequel, including on Threads in late July.

Meanwhile, Corenswet has said he knows Gunn is working on another project that he'll appear in, but doesn't know what it is. Considering everything else that Gunn has on his plate, expect it to be a while before we find out anything official.

Wonder Woman

A standalone Wonder Woman movie is in the works at DC Studios (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

After Gunn sparked excitement about Wonder Woman's DCU debut in mid-May, the DC Studios co-head confirmed a Diana Prince-led DCU film was in early development one month later. Fans already think that one Star Wars actor is the clear choice to play her, too.

It's unclear how this flick will impact Paradise Lost, the previously announced DCU TV series that'll be based on Prince's home island of Themyscira (more on this in the below section). Like Superman 2, we await more details from Messrs Gunn and Safran.

DCU Chapter One: TV shows in developmentCreature Commandos season 2

Some of the pictured characters will return in the show's sophomore season (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

Following this show's season 1 debut in late 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) renewed the DCU's first animated show for a second season. Showrunner Dean Lorey has confirmed work is already underway on its next installment as well (per Collider).

While we wait for more on the series' return, remind yourself what happened in last season's final episode via my Creature Commandos season 1 ending explained piece. Then, get the full lowdown on its follow-up by reading my Creature Commandos season 2 hub.

Waller

Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, one of the few survivors of the old DCEU, is getting her own TV show (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Confirmed cast: Viola Davis

An Amanda Waller standalone series was expected to be Gunn's next project after Peacemaker season 2 (per Threads). However, speaking at February's press event, Gunn said of its development: "We’ve taken a couple of cracks at it but still haven’t been able to land [it]. Waller has been a bumpy road". As of mid-June, Gunn said (via Threads) that it's still in development.

Once a breakthrough his achieved, Davis will headline this live-action Peacemaker spin-off on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services. In a 2024 post on Threads, Gunn confirmed events in Peacemaker season 2 will directly lead into Waller, too.

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is set on Themyscira, Wonder Woman's idyllic island home (Image credit: DC Comics)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

Paradise Lost will go back to Wonder Woman’s idyllic island home for some political in-fighting. "It’s going to be a Game of Thrones-ish story about Themyscira, the home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman," Safran teased in January 2023. "This drama is really about the political intrigue behind this society of all women."

In February, Gunn revealed work was continuing on this DCU Chapter One production, but a writer still hadn't been found, so this series is still a while away. Considering a Wonder Woman film is also in the works now, it's unclear whether this project will ever see the light of day.

Booster Gold

Booster Gold is coming back from the future to headline his own DCU TV show (Image credit: DC Studios)

Release date: TBC
Director: TBC
Cast: TBC

If your first thought was "...who???", you’re not alone. Booster Gold, aka Michael Jon Carter, is arguably the most unlikely superhero on the 'Gods and Monsters' roster but, if you’ve seen any of Gunn’s previous output, you’ll understand why this lesser known comic book appealed to his sensibilities.

For the uninitiated: it’s the story of a guy – read: loser – from the future who comes back in time to the present and uses basic future tech to convince everyone he’s a superhero. Or, as Gunn puts it: "It's the superhero story of imposter syndrome".

Like many DCU Chapter One projects, there are very few details about it. Speaking at February's press event, Safran admitted a showrunner had been found, but they ultimately walked away from the project. However, it is "moving forward with somebody else", Safran added, so development hasn't officially stalled.

For more DC-based coverage, read our guides on how to watch the DC movies in order, how to watch the Batman movies in order, and how to watch the Superman movies in order. Then, see if you agree with our ranking of the best Batman movies.

For fans of high-fidelity audio, Spotify HiFi could be the Holy Grail. After unveiling its plans for lossless, CD-quality audio in 2021, audiophiles around the world have been patiently waiting for Spotify to bridge that gap to competitor services like Tidal and Apple Music. Though it's still one of our best music streaming services, Spotify has yet to deliver its highly anticipated HiFi tier. It's been almost five years, but we are closer to the release of Spotify HiFi than ever before.

When it comes to the hi-res audio game, Apple and Amazon are leaps and bounds ahead of Spotify. Since 2021 subscribers of both services have been able to reap the benefits of lossless audio quality at no extra cost, so what's gone wrong with Spotify? It's a question we're still asking ourselves to this day, but recently Spotify has been dropping more hints about its HiFi tier which we can now point to a late 2025 release date.

(Image credit: Spotify / Apple)

Unfortunately, even when Spotify HiFi does drop, we have reason to believe that it will only be available in “select markets” to start. And while Spotify hasn’t said exactly how much the service will cost just yet, we're confident that the Spotify HiFi tier will cost more than the current standard premium subscription which sits at $11.99/ £11.99/ AU$13.99 - and there’s no guarantee that every song in the entire Spotify catalog will have a HiFi version available.

In spite of this very clear downside, we have good reason to believe that Spotify HiFi songs will be available to save and download to your devices for offline listening, which means you should be able to take your new lossless music library with you anywhere.

Ready to make the leap to lossless? Here's everything we know about Spotify HiFi.

Spotify HiFi release date rumors

After five years since Spotify unveiled its plans to introduce lossless audio to enhance music listening for its subscribers, a recent Bloomberg ($/£) report says that Spotify HiFi is tipped to launch in late 2025 and will be called Spotify Music Pro. Not only will this new subscription tier give you the long-awaited lossless audio you've been waiting for, but will include additional benefits such as remixing tools (including some AI-powered features for mashing tracks together), and even special offers on live music and concert tickets.

The latest update comes from tech expert Chris Messina, who found several references to "Lossless" with a capital L in the latest code for the Spotify desktop app. These point to promotional messages inside the app – "The best way to listen in Lossless is with Spotify Connect" – and alerts such as "we're sorry, this track isn't in Lossless yet" or "Looks like your internet connection is having a hard time supporting Lossless right now."

Prior to these findings, Spotify's Open House event in May saw the company implying that it's currently looking at ways to improve the music streaming experience for 'superfans'. In addition to admitting it made mistakes with Wrapped 2024, CEO Daniel Ek had the following to say:

“What more things can we do like Fans First that scales, and that provides a great experience for the artist, and provides a great experience for the consumer?", adding "I do agree that the need – the creator need or the artist need – exists. And the consumer need is there too. The question is just how do you create a great experience?”.

Spotify HiFi was expected to arrive in 2021, and one of the first leaks we came across was back then when a user on Reddit shared a video seemingly pointing to the HiFi onboarding process - but that was five years ago. Back in March, Spotify ran into a number of bug issues including one that showed ads to Premium subscribers, and while we can't directly connect this to the rollout of Spotify HiFi it's definitely raised our suspicions about what Spotify has going on behind-the-scenes.

We’re aware of some issues with the app right now and are checking them out! We'll keep you posted here: https://t.co/lOcqE1o9OeMarch 6, 2025

In a 2021 blog post, Spotify stated the following; "Beginning later this year, Premium subscribers in select markets will be able to upgrade their sound quality to Spotify HiFi and listen to their favorite songs the way artists intended,". Initially, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek claimed that the delay in adding Spotify HiFi has largely come down to licensing issues.

Aside from licensing rights, the Spotify HiFi delay can be attributed to its undivided attention to its social features such as Spotify Wrapped, and its mission to bring more AI integrations to its user experience; its AI DJ feature and generative Daylist feature (one which I frequent regularly) are two of its most popular AI tools. Recently, we reported on Spotify's plans to 'double down' on music in 2025 which we believe could go down one of two paths; either the long-awaited HiFi tier or more AI advancements.

Spotify's AI generated 'Daylist' feature was introduced in September 2023. (Image credit: Spotify)

It's also worth focusing on that select markets bit as it means we won’t see Spotify HiFi going live in every territory at the same time. Previously, when Spotify has rolled out new features it usually starts with the US and Europe, but now that the service is available in more than 180 markets, it’s hard to say which will be among the first to get the new service.

The other issue you’ll run into regarding Spotify HiFi’s release date – whenever it is eventually announced – is that it’s unlikely that every Spotify Connect device will get the upgrade at the same time – which means some speakers like, say, the Sonos One and PS5 might get it long before your slightly older AV receiver.

Spotify HiFi price predictions

According to the recent Bloomberg report, if the rumors of Spotify Music Pro are true then it could cost you an additional $5 a month on top of its $12 Premium plan. This means that it could be a 50% price rise, presumably costing an additional £6 in the UK and AU$7 in Australia.

Previously, we had reason to believe that Spotify HiFi would launch as a brand new subscription tier but the new rumors point to our past guesses that Spotify HiFi would be a new Music Pro feature, as well as a $5 add-on for the Premium Plan. Spotify Premium currently stands at a monthly cost of $11.99/ £11.99/ AU$13.99 therefore if the $5 add-on rumors are true, we'd venture a guess that Spotify HiFi could cost between $14.99 and $19.99 which feels like a safe bet.

Speaking of new add-ons, recently a leaked image on X (see below) shows text in the Spotify iOS beta app saying "Explore plans and get more from your Premium experience with add-ons". While we don't know what these add-ons will consist of, they would give credibility to the Bloomberg rumors and mark a big change in Spotify's subscription tier system.

Spotify is working on add-ons!A recent beta of Spotify for iOS mentions "Explore plans and get more from your Premium experience with add-ons" and "'Browse add-ons" pic.twitter.com/nllQtB4xl6April 28, 2025

What’s also influencing our previous guesses is the competition: a Tidal subscription will run you $19.99 per month, while Hi-Res Audio streaming services like Qobuz and Deezer cost $14.99 and $11.99 per month. Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music are a bit cheaper and now include lossless streaming options, and it's possible Spotify HiFi could be around the same price if it ever launches.

On the prices front, The Financial Times ($/£) recently dropped a report hinting at an upcoming price hike. According to it's coverage Spotify will be increasing the cost of an individual subscription by €1 (about $1/£1) as soon as June, but this will only apply to subscribers in Europe and Latin American countries, and not those in the US who received a price hike just last year.

Spotify HiFi audio quality

So, just how good will Spotify HiFi's lossless audio be? It will supposedly sound, at the very least, as good as a CD does – and maybe a bit better.

According to Spotify, Spotify HiFi will stream CD-quality lossless audio to your devices. Ideally, those devices will be connected to a network and capable of using Spotify Connect, otherwise, you’ll have to pipe it over Bluetooth which will likely diminish the quality.

In the absence of Spotify HiFi, you can amend your audio streaming quality in your account settings to add somewhat of an improvement to your listening experience. Just go to your Spotify settings, and tap 'Audio Quality'.

(Image credit: Future)

That’s a heck of a lot better than Spotify's current offering of 320kbps, and will likely bring the service's potential audio quality up to par with Tidal, Deezer, and maybe even Apple’s Digital Masters. Speaking of Apple Digital Masters, there’s always a chance that Spotify might also go above and beyond hi-fi with 96kHz / 24-bit audio, but we’re not holding our breath.

So what does that all mean? In a very practical sense, lossless audio formats have more details and data than their lossy counterparts. That means hearing new details in songs you’ve never heard before that otherwise might’ve been cut out when the data was compressed. It should also sound a bit wider and more immersive, though, a lot of it will depend on which headphones or speakers you use, too.

Spotify HiFi song catalog 

The murkiest detail of all for Spotify HiFi is how many – and which – songs from Spotify’s more than 100 million-song catalog will be included. The safest assumption we can make is that it won't support every song in Spotify's vast catalog, but millions of them should be.

Among those will likely be top hits from major record labels which already distribute the files to other services, while some music from smaller labels and older legacy titles likely won’t make the cut. We’ll keep our ears to the ground for more details on which songs will make the cut, but for now, it’s probably best to keep your CD collection right where it is until new details emerge.

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• 'FlirtAI' has leaked user data in an unprotected storage bucket
• The app's user base seems to have primarily been teenagers
• The leaked chats could have a devastating affect on victims

It’s hard to imagine a more mortifyingly embarrassing scenario than your own private flirty chats being exposed online, except, perhaps, being caught sending these messages off for analysis by an AI app.

Researchers at Cybernews have discovered a breach at "FlirtAI - Get Rizz & Dates" (yes, that is really what it’s called) which has leaked over 160,000 chat screenshots from users through an unprotected cloud storage bucket.

Users of this app feed screenshots of their private conversations into the application to get tailored responses designed to help the user flirt or escalate the conversation.

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More than just embarrassing

Unsurprisingly, but worryingly nonetheless, this app seems to have been primarily used by teenagers.

Because of the configuration of the app, those primarily at risk are not those who have sent the chats in, but the person they’re talking to - presumably other teenagers who are completely unaware that their conversation has been leaked, and probably unaware that this app even exists.

Whilst we’ve seen more dangerous personal data leaked by other AI chatbots like SSNs and financial information, the nature of this chatbot and its user base represents a different kind of harm.

As an adult, I’m not sure how well I’d cope with my private chats being exposed online, so for an already vulnerable teenager this could be devastating.

“The fact that teenagers used this app may increase the severity of a potential data breach as data from minors is considered more sensitive, and could be subject to more restrictions regarding potential data uses and collection and processing practices," Cybernews researchers confirmed.

The app does state that users are “only allowed to upload a screenshot when you have obtained the necessary approvals from all users/humans and their information mentioned in the screenshot”.

But, since this would negate the point of the chatbot, it seems pretty unlikely that this is followed.

Those exposed in this breach could be at a heightened risk of social engineering attacks like phishing or, given that the app encourages users to share their target's dating profile, there could be a risk of impersonation attacks.

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• Meta's first multi-gigawatt AI datacenter cluster, Prometheus, will go live next year
• Hyperion will follow, with plans to scale it up to a staggering 5GW
• Company revenue is strong, but Capex rises

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed plans to build several multi-gigawatt AI datacenter clusters to fuel our growing and insatiable demand for artificial intelligence, with the first cluster, Prometheus, set to go online in 2026.

Another cluster, Hyperion, will follow, with Meta planning to scale this one up to 5 gigawatts over the course of several years.

More so-called titan clusters are also in the works, with the CEO sharing a visualization in a Facebook post showing how Hyperion covers the equivalent of most of Manhattan.

Meta will build massive, miles-long datacenter clusters

Boasting about the company's progress, Zuckerberg shared: "SemiAnalysis just reported that Meta is on track to be the first lab to bring a 1GW+ supercluster online."

The Facebook post summarizes how Meta will combine massive compute power and elite talent to advance superintelligence, backed by hundreds of billions of dollars in compute infrastructure investments. Meta's new Superintelligence Labs promise to have the highest compute per researcher in the industry.

Despite consistent growth, with last year's revenue hitting $165 billion, Meta's spending spree in the world of enhanced intelligence continues. The company's 2025 capital expenditure was raised to an estimated $64-$72 billion, but investors seem to be slightly more cautious about when these massive AI investments will become profitable.

With competition heating up against OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon – among others – Meta aims to bring the first gigawatt-plus AI cluster online with next year's Prometheus.

Speaking about the company's most recent quarterly report, Zuckerberg wrote: "AI continues to transform everything we do." He highlighted five key areas of long-term investment and opportunity: improved advertising, more engaging experiences, business messaging, Meta AI, and AI devices.

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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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, July 15 (game #765).

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 #766) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• QUAD
• CORNER
• TREE
• HAMMY
• LAMB
• LIBRARY
• DELT
• SURROUND
• OVERDONE
• TRAP
• THE
• BET
• CAMP
• DORM
• DRAMATIC
• CAFETERIA

NYT Connections today (game #766) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: School grounds
• GREEN: Theatrical show off
• BLUE: Hunted down
• PURPLE: Ancient alphabet

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 #766) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS
• GREEN: EXAGGERATED, AS A PERFORMANCE
• BLUE: CLOSE IN ON
• PURPLE: STARTS OF GREEK LETTERS

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

NYT Connections today (game #766) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #766, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS CAFETERIA, DORM, LIBRARY, QUAD
• GREEN: EXAGGERATED, AS A PERFORMANCE CAMP, DRAMATIC, HAMMY, OVERDONE
• BLUE: CLOSE IN ON CORNER, SURROUND, TRAP, TREE
• PURPLE: STARTS OF GREEK LETTERS BET, DELT, LAMB, THE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

Although I didn’t make any mistakes I’m classifying this as tricky because I only made a clear run down to luck.

DRAMATIC and CAMP behavior is something I really enjoy and recognizing that some people might associate it with being HAMMY and OVERDONE I quickly put together the green group – EXAGERATED, AS A PERFORMANCE.

I came close to placing TREE in the group that became PARTS OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS before swapping it for CAFETERIA.

The last eight letters were a baffling bunch, so I decided to put THE and BET to one side and concentrate on what was left. CORNER, SURROUND and TRAP all seemed to describe catching someone, but I struggled to find the fourth and just added TREE to make up the numbers. I’m still not sure how it’s relevant to CLOSE IN ON.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, July 15 game #765)

• YELLOW: GYMNASTICS APPARATUS BARS, BEAM, RINGS, VAULT
• GREEN: FORCE TO LEAVE BOOT, BOUNCE, EJECT, REMOVE
• BLUE: HORROR MOVIES FROM 2022 NOPE, PEARL, SCREAM, SMILE
• PURPLE: HORSE__ FEATHERS, PLAY, POWER, SHOE

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.