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Jimmy Fallon is a nerd. That's the only explanation possible after I witnessed The Tonight Show star and SNL alum describe, unprompted, what the "6" and "8" in IP68 signify.

It was about mid-point through the hour-plus long Made By Google presentation in Steiner Studios in Brooklyn on Wednesday (Aug 20) when Fallon explained that 6 stands for dust and 8 stands for water in reference to the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold's first-of-its-kind IP68 rating.

Granted, Fallon then took it a step too far and started describing protective capabilities that made a Google marketing rep squirm and remind the host that there "were lawyers in the audience."

This was one of the high points in a rather unusual tech product launch event. It was strange for tech media like me because Google allowed us to publish our hands on impression of the new Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google Pixel Buds 2a, and Pixel Watch 4, an hour before Fallon and an assortment of Google execs, influencers, podcasts, and popstars took the stage.

Rick Osterloh (left) and Jimmy Fallon (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The low point was when Google Hardware chief Rick Osterloh promised, essentially, one more thing, and all we got was an ill-defined role for Stephen Curry as a new Performance Advisor for Google Health. Curry wasn't even there in person. Instead, we watched a video of his mildly amusing, fake job interview.

I had, for a hot second, thought we might see Android XR-powered Project Moohan or some variation of Google's latest AR glasses efforts. I hoped that we might even have some hands-on with AR glasses featuring the latest version of Gemini Live.

Just imagine how cool it would have been to see Jimmy Fallon wearing and using those things. He was game for anything, and I'm sure he would have loved it.

Jimmy Fallon and a Gogole marketing exec. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The lack of the really big one more thing, and that the world was reading about all Google's hardware and AI/Gemini-software updates before Fallon and Osterloh said a single word, sucked a bit of the life out of the whole affair.

Granted, I enjoyed the demos and am still blown away by the live call translations. I think Fallon was honestly tickled at hearing his own voice speak fluent Spanish on the other side of a phone call. This is a cool and powerful feature people will be talking about for a long time.

You can't go home again

Almost a decade after Google unveiled its first Pixel phone and a raft of Google Home products and features like Google WiFi, Nest devices, and Google Assistant, Google paid what I consider little attention to that side of the business.

Google may be pouring money and time into Gemini – and it should – but Google Home is increasingly feeling like a poor relation. When I switched some of my old Nest devices to Google Home (Google left me no choice), they actually lost some features.

Google Home isn't a particularly good smart home management hub, though I think it could get better with Gemini, and I am pleased that Google announced plans to put Gemini in charge of the home (with Gemini for Home). But Google didn't give us a single live demonstration of these capabilities, and so I remain unconvinced about how, as Google shifts Google Assistant out of the picture, Gemini will improve my smart home control ecosystem.

With zero Google Home, Nest hardware updates (though Google promises they're coming soon), I worry that Google is losing interest in the smart home space. I know that's not true, but Made by Google was a moment where Google could've shown us its vision for the future of AI-managed smart homes with their hardware dotted around the house and Gemini at the center.

One or two live demonstrations would've made all the difference, but we got none.

Jimmy Fallon (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Some, though, may applaud Google for its focus. By pulling the usual, by-the-numbers product reveals out of the event, Fallon and company could focus on buzzy features and not get stuck in the minutiae of components, materials, prices, and ship dates.

This made the event, as was Google's intention, more like a TV show (there was even a TV show-style crowd warmer), and who better to host such a show than Jimmy Fallon?

The crowd warmer (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

He even had celebrity guests like Call Her Daddy podcaster Alex Cooper, who is tech-savvy enough to show off various AI photo features, and at the end, Nick Jonas. The singer did not sing, but he did introduce a new Jonas Brothers music video shot entirely on Pixel phones. That was fun, but I can also see that on YouTube, which Google's parent Alphabet also owns.

With zero surprises and no home tech, it wasn't a perfect unveiling, but at least we have all these cool new Pixel gadgets to admire.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) @techradar

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The Google Pixel Watch 4 has been revealed, and you can check out our first impressions along with the next crop of phones – Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Fold – and the Google Pixel Buds 2a headphones.

While there are plenty of features to get excited about, including on-device Gemini, the gorgeous new 3,000-nit domed display, and the improved battery life, there's one feature I'm really happy about, especially due to its implications for the rest of the wearable technology industry. Of all the companies that were going to crack this feature first, I wouldn't have picked Google, yet here we are.

In a move towards longevity and sustainability, Google has introduced replaceable batteries and screens to its Pixel Watch series. The Google Pixel Watch 4's case can be unscrewed, allowing users to remove and replace parts. Google will sell the parts during the Pixel Watch 4's life cycle and up to two years after it's discontinued.

Fantastic (Pixel Watch) 4: First Steps

(Image credit: Google)

Google not only now offers smartwatch repair services for the Pixel Watch 4, but it's also enabled home repairs for the battery and display by partnering with iFixit just as it's done for phones. Despite the fact anyone with a Torx screwdriver and a bit of patience can replace the battery or display on the Watch 4, according to this WIRED report, it even manages to retain its waterproofing.

This is a first for Google, and really there's not much traction on ideas like this in the smartwatch industry as a whole. I've been reviewing smartwatches for years, and most mainstream watches – including those from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Garmin – are designed as sealed units. Once they croak (be it from a sudden crack or drop on concrete, or a gradual wearing down of the battery) they are designed to be thrown away and completely replaced.

In an age of consumption, Google's throwing a welcome bone to longevity here. Depending on the price of the replacement parts (which Google hasn't yet revealed) this initiative could save users money, as they're able to repair rather than replace their old tech.

In addition, it's also a very welcome prospect from an environmental perspective. E-waste is a growing problem, and one that other companies frequently pay lip service to. Apple does offer in-house watch services and repairs via its AppleCare+ scheme, but draws the line at home repairs. If you haven't shelled out for AppleCare, you'll have to pay a one-time fee and shop your watch in while Apple repairs it. Depending on the age of your watch, this fee and inconvenience could be enough to consider throwing it away and upgrading.

Apple made much about the carbon-neutral production of its latest couple of crops of smartwatches, even casting Octavia Spencer to play Mother Earth in a skit two years ago. But while Apple may be offsetting carbon from its production, it's still producing like crazy, churning out annual product releases and enormous volumes of units. It's hardly anti-consumption.

While all the lithium from Google's replacement batteries isn't exactly virtuous, a repairable device is a step in the right direction. You're not throwing away perfectly good electronics just because one part has failed: much like a PC or an older Android device, the Google Pixel Watch 4 can be taken apart and replaced. Perhaps one day, it could even be modded, installing a battery from the Pixel Watch 5 range if compatible. A great start to the scheme.

Future imperfect

(Image credit: Evan Blass)

It's not all sunshine and roses, however: the need to open up the back has resulted in a change for the Pixel Watch 4's charging port. Rather than opt for a magnetic or pin-based proprietary puck, like previous incarnations, this charging dock is positioned on the side of the device, allowing the Pebble design to stand up like a little alarm clock.

It's cute, and Google has definitely made the best of it with a rotating display and by positioning the digital crown straight upwards, like the snooze button on a real alarm clock. However, there's no doubt we'll see frustration in some corners about the third proprietary charger in as many years – and there's definitely a sense this is a waste of plastic.

For all its faults, Apple has at least stuck with the same charger for nigh-on a decade, so it can be used interchangeably with different watches. However, if Google is intending to keep its devices repairable, this might be the winning design and taken forward to use with next year's model – and there's no denying that the 'little alarm clock' idea feels like a winner.

A better tomorrow

Despite Google and its parent company Alphabet's energy-hungry lust for AI and its greediness for all our data, I'm pleased one of the major tech firms took a small step away from forcing us to buy more stuff we don't need, and instead taking us back to the days in which our watches, our phones, our computers and other essential technologies were repairable and lasted longer.

Here's hoping it's a massive success, encouraging more companies to adopt similar or even standardized, interchangeable replacements (hah, what a pipe dream!) creating a more ethical, sustainable wearables industry.

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• Survey reveals budget limits, power demands, and cloud reliance are shaping AI hardware decisions
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AI hardware spending is beginning to evolve as teams weigh performance, financial considerations, and scalability, new research has claimed.

Liquid Web’s latest AI hardware study surveyed 252 trained AI professionals, and found while Nvidia remains comfortably the most used hardware supplier, its rivals are increasingly gaining traction.

Nearly one third of respondents reported using alternatives such as Google TPUs, AMD GPUs, or Intel chips for at least some part of their workloads.

The pitfalls of skipping due diligence

The sample size is admittedly small, so does not capture the full scale of global adoption, but the results do show a clear shift in how teams are beginning to think about infrastructure.

A single team can deploy hundreds of GPUs, so even limited adoption of non-Nvidia options can make a big difference to the hardware footprint.

Nvidia is still preferred by over two-thirds (68%) of surveyed teams, and many buyers don’t rigorously compare alternatives before deciding.

About 28% of those surveyed admitted to skipping structured evaluations and in some cases, that lack of testing led to mismatched infrastructure and underpowered setups.

“Our research shows that skipping due diligence leads to delayed or canceled initiatives - a costly mistake in a fast-moving industry,” said Ryan MacDonald, CTO at Liquid Web.

Familiarity and past experience are among the strongest drivers of GPU choice. Forty three percent of participants cited those factors, compared with 35% who valued cost and 37% who went for performance testing.

Budget limitations also weigh heavily, with 42% scaling back projects and 14% canceling them entirely thanks to hardware shortages or costs.

Hybrid and cloud-based solutions are becoming standard. More than half of respondents said they use both on-premises and cloud systems, and many expect to increase cloud spending as the year goes on.

Dedicated GPU hosting is seen by some as a way of avoiding the performance losses that come with shared or fractionalized hardware.

Energy use continues to be challenging. While 45% recognized efficiency as important, only 13% actively optimized for it. Many also regretted power, cooling, and supply chain setbacks.

While Nvidia continues to dominate the market, it’s clear that the competition is closing the gap. Teams are finding that balancing cost, efficiency, and reliability is almost as important as raw performance when building AI infrastructure.

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Intel has added a new capability to its Core Ultra systems which echoes an earlier move from AMD.

The feature, known as "Shared GPU Memory Override," allows users to allocate additional system RAM for use by integrated graphics.

This development is targeted at machines that rely on integrated solutions rather than discrete GPUs, a category that includes many compact laptops and mobile workstation models.

Memory allocation and gaming performance

Bob Duffy, who leads Graphics and AI Evangelism at Intel, confirmed the update and advised that the latest Intel Arc drivers are required to enable the function.

The change is presented as a way of enhancing system flexibility, particularly for users interested in AI tools and workloads that depend on memory availability.

The introduction of extra shared memory is not automatically a benefit for every application, as testing has shown that some games may load larger textures if more memory is available, which can actually cause performance to dip rather than improve.

AMD’s earlier "Variable Graphics Memory" was framed largely as a gaming enhancement, especially when combined with AFMF.

That combination allowed more game assets to be stored directly in memory, which sometimes produced measurable gains.

Although the impact was not universal, results varied depending on the software in question.

Intel’s adoption of a comparable system suggests it is keen to remain competitive, although skepticism remains over how broadly it will benefit everyday users.

While gamers may see mixed outcomes, those working with local models could stand to gain more from Intel’s approach.

Running large language models locally is becoming increasingly common, and these workloads are often limited by available memory.

By extending the pool of RAM available to integrated graphics, Intel is positioning its systems to handle larger models that would otherwise be constrained.

This may allow users to offload more of the model onto VRAM, reducing bottlenecks and improving stability when running AI tools.

For researchers and developers without access to a discrete GPU, this could offer a modest but useful improvement.

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• Criminals found using Skype to deliver images hiding malware
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Cybercriminals have been found using Skype messenger to deliver Remote Access Trojans (RAT) malware, compromising victim's computers and opening the doors for devastating stage-two attacks.

Cybersecurity researchers at Kaspersky recently uncovered a previously unseen malware variant called GodRAT being distributed via malicious screensaver files, disguised as financial documents.

Unusually, the miscreants were delivering the malware to their victims via Skype messenger until March 2025, when they pivoted to other channels.

GodRAT malware being spread

First off, the hackers would share fake financial data in an image file. By using steganography, they would hide shellcode in the files which, when activated, downloads the GodRAT malware from a third-party server.

The RAT harvests operating system details, local hostname, malware process name and process ID, the user account associated with the malware process, installed antivirus software, and the presence of a capture driver.

After that, GodRAT can receive additional plugins, depending on the initial information shared with the attackers. These plugins can be file explorers, or password stealers.

In some cases, the crooks used GodRAT to deploy AsyncRAT, a secondary implant that granted them prolonged, if not permanent, access.

“GodRAT appears to be an evolution of AwesomePuppet, which was reported by Kaspersky in 2023 and is likely linked to the Winnti APT. Its distribution methods, rare command-line parameters, code similarities with Gh0st RAT, and shared artifacts - such as a distinctive fingerprint header - suggest a common origin,” said Saurabh Sharma, Security Researcher at Kaspersky GReAT.

“The discovery of GodRAT demonstrates how such long-known tools can remain relevant in today’s cybersecurity landscape,”

Kaspersky did not discuss the number of victims, or potential success rate of the campaign, but it did stress that the victims were mostly small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) in UAE, Hong Kong, Jordan, and Lebanon.

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The lack of built-in, MagSafe-style magnetic accessory support has been a major bugbear for Android users in recent years, but Google has finally debuted a Pixel-exclusive alternative to Apple’s popular iPhone technology.

Pixelsnap is an ecosystem of magnetic Qi2.2 accessories for the entire Google Pixel 10 line. Much like MagSafe, it lets you attach wireless chargers, stands, grips, and other accessories to the back of any Pixel 10 phone, with their built-in magnetic rings facilitating charging up to 25W (the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro Fold are capped at 15W, while the 10 Pro XL gets a higher 25W ceiling).

Google revealed a suite of first-party Pixelsnap accessories at its latest Made by Google showcase; the first batch includes a magnetic charger, a magnetic stand, and a magnetic ring tool. But, crucially, Pixelsnap is also compatible with existing MagSafe accessories from Apple and third-party brands like Belkin, which is a bigger deal than it sounds.

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Apple hasn’t been gatekeeping its MagSafe technology; it actually helped develop the Qi2 wireless charging standard in 2023, which uses magnetic alignment to facilitate faster charging on mobile devices.

Until now, though, the HMD Skyline was the only Android phone to come with built-in magnets to fully support the Qi2 standard.

Recent top-end Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13 are technically Qi2-ready, but they don’t have built-in magnets – you have to purchase a compatible case (or adhesive ring) with a magnetic mounting system to make use of their Qi2 capabilities.

Image 1 of 2

Pixelsnap accessories for the Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Image 2 of 2

Pixelsnap accessories for the Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Google Pixel 10 and its siblings, then, are the first mainstream Android phones to ship with a true MagSafe-style alignment system – and for now, that gives them a rare hardware edge over the best Android phones from the likes of Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola.

Other upgrades for the Google Pixel 10 line include new AI-powered camera features, a dedicated telephoto camera for the base model, and an IP68 rating for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold; but, for the reasons outlined above, Pixelsnap could be the most important upgrade of all.

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• From August 21, the price of all PlayStation 5 consoles is increasing by $50
• The standard PS5 will be $549.99, while the PS5 Pro jumps to $749.99
• PS5 accessories – and consoles in other regions – remain unchanged

Sony has announced that it will increase the recommended retail price of the PlayStation 5 in the US.

In a post on the official PlayStation Blog, the manufacturer stated that "a challenging economic environment" has led to the "difficult decision" of increasing the price of all PS5 consoles by $50.

That means, from August 21, the price of the standard PS5 console will increase from $499.99 to $549.99. The cheaper PS5 Digital Edition will also see a jump from $449.99 to $499.99. Lastly, the premium PS5 Pro will leap from $699.99 to $749.99 – yikes!

In one piece of positive news amidst all the gloom, Sony did at least confirm that the price of PlayStation 5 accessories will remain unchanged. So, everything from the DualSense Controller to the Vertical Stand will not be more expensive and will stay at the current price for now.

If it wasn't clear enough what the reasoning is behind these price increases, Sony has added a final note to the update, stating that it has no other price changes to announce for other markets. These price hikes are solely for the US and are almost certainly due to the ongoing chaos caused by US tariffs.

Sony isn't the only games console manufacturer to announce price hikes in the US this month. Back at the start of August, Nintendo also bumped up the price of various Switch consoles by up to $50. These increases applied to the original Nintendo Switch, the Switch Lite, and the Switch OLED. The latest Nintendo Switch 2 remained untouched, but some of the console's new accessories did receive smaller price increases.

Of course, retailers have some leeway on whether to go with the new prices for PS5 consoles from tomorrow, but given how many immediately responded to the Nintendo Switch price changes, I wouldn't be surprised if all of them are implemented sooner rather than later. That means, shop now if you want to secure a saving, as it's likely that it'll only be the same prices we see now returning on Black Friday.

We're approaching five years since the launch date of the original PS5, and while the price has fluctuated in many regions, a blanket increase like this is unheard of so late in a console's lifecycle.

Most of us expect older consoles to get cheaper, not more expensive – especially deals hunters like me who are always trying to find the best offers for the most wanted tech. These are unusual times.

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• A 22-year-old Ethan Foltz was recently arrested
• He's being suspected of building, and renting, an enormous DDoS-for-hire botnet called Rapper Bot
• Since the arrest, there were no reports of new Rapper Bot activity

A 22-year-old Alaskan man has been arrested under the suspicion of building, maintaining, and renting “one of the most sophisticated and powerful DDoS-for-hire botnets currently in existence” - the infamous “Rapper Bot”.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced law enforcement agents raided the home of Ethan Foltz of Eugene, Oregon, who was apparently arrested, while Rapper Bot was seized and terminated.

The DoJ also claimed the raid a success, as “private sector partners have not reported any Rapper Bot attacks since”.

10 years in prison

Foltz is now suspected of developing and distributing a unique piece of malware that infected Digital Video Recorders (DVRS) and WiFi routers.

That malware allegedly granted him control over almost 100,000 devices, which he used to build a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) botnet.

Together with his alleged co-conspirators (who weren’t named in the announcement and were most likely not arrested), he sold access to that botnet, which various cybercriminals used to mount DDoS attacks against different entities, including government agencies, social media platforms, and US tech companies.

According to the criminal complaint, just between April 2025 and today, Rapper Bot was used in 370,000 attacks against 18,000 victims, located in 80 countries around the world.

US Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska described Rapper Bot as “one of the most powerful DDoS botnets to ever exist.” The attacks measured up to three terabits per second, and in some cases even exceeded six terabits per second.

The announcement also said that a single, 30-second DDoS attack could cost a business up to $10,000 in different costs, from lost revenue, disgruntled customers, to bandwidth usage costs, or the resources needed to respond to attacks.

Foltz is charged with one count of aiding and abetting computer intrusions, and if convicted, he could spend the next 10 years in prison.

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Just days after Samsung made its Samsung made its Galaxy Buds 3 FE official, Google’s ushering in a new pair of similarly affordable, value-oriented earbuds, and I got to briefly try them. That’s right, the Pixel Buds 2a are officially official with a much more compact carrying case and in-ear design that resembles the more expensive Pixel Buds 2 Pro.

Google’s Pixel Buds 2a are priced at $129 / £129 / AU$239 and are up for preorder right now. However, just like the just-announced Pixel Watch 4 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and even the Pixel Buds 2 Pro in 2024, these earbuds won’t ship until October. Specifically, October 9, 2025, is the Pixel Buds 2a’s actual launch and when deliveries are expected to begin.

Even with a long time to wait, there is a lot to like here, especially factoring in the price you pay.

It starts with the overall design. The Pixel Buds 2a take up less space than the original Pixel Buds A earbuds and were easy to place in my ears.

@techradar

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I especially like that the twistable stabilizer has trickled down from the Pixel Buds 2 Pro and allows you to sort of lock these in your ear for when you'll be active, or to choose a slightly looser fit for gentler use. There is an ear-tip fit test you can conduct in the companion app for Android devices, and Google ships four ear tips in the box.

I wouldn’t sleep on the fun new Iris color option (shown above), either. It’s more of a light lilac in person, but I especially like the subtle pop of color it provides. Pixel Buds 2a are also coming in Hazel, which is a shade of black (shown below).

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

You’ll also find a “G” for Google engraved on each bud, and that same spot has a capacitive touch sensor for controls, such as pausing music or engaging Google Gemini, though you can also call upon the AI to help using the phrase, ‘Hey Google.’

Google’s also stepping up battery life here – Pixel Buds 2a should last for 10 hours on a full charge or for up to 27 hours with recharges in the case, though that's with active noise cancellation turned off. With it on, you're looking at seven hours from the buds and 20 hours from the case.

The carrying case is smaller and very palm-able, making the buds even more tempting to take every with you. The case recharges via a USB-C port and, like the Pixel Watch 4, now has a battery that can be replaced, making it more serviceable for long-term use.

Aiding in the improved battery life over the previous Google Pixel Buds A-Series is the Google Tensor A1 chip. It should make things a bit more efficient and speed up responsiveness, but it also powers another new feature – active noise cancellation.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Google promises that ANC on the Pixel Buds 2a is as good as the first-generation Pixel Buds Pro, and we’ll need to put that to the test. Without music playing, though, I was able to engage the ANC on the Buds 2a, and it brought a fairly packed hands-on space to a whisper.

It put me in the zone, to a degree, and with a track playing it should be even more effective, though Google didn't allow us to play music during this early look, which obviously means we'll be holding off from a full verdict until we can do our full review.

The Pixel Buds 2a will also feature a transparency mode for times when you want to let in environmental noise or someone chatting with you.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

While I didn’t get to try audio playback on the Pixel Buds 2a, we do know that an 11mm dynamic driver powers the experience, and these affordable earbuds will boast an adjustable five-band equalizer via the app. For when you want to be immersed in sound, spatial audio is supported here as well, though it only works with certain Pixel devices (from Pixel 6 and later).

And if you misplace the case, you can see the location on a map, and if the earbuds are inside, you can ping it to have it play a sound. This way, the game of hide and seek will be done a little quicker.

On paper, the Pixel Buds 2a are shaping up to be a pretty compelling pair of earbuds, but even at $129 / £129 / AU$239, these are entering a pretty packed world of the best earbuds, with strong options at the same price and lower.

As we approach the official launch and arrival date of October 9, 2025, we'll put the Pixel Buds 2a through their paces and see just how good these new Google earbuds are. If you’re sold, though, the Google Pixel Buds 2a are up for pre-order now in either Iris or Hazel.

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• $129.99 / £129 / AU$239, pre-order now for October launch

Google has launched the Pixel Buds 2a, the new version of the most affordable Pixel earbuds, and it's given the Pixel Buds Pro 2 some useful free upgrades at the same time.

The new Pixel Buds 2a are the first A-series earbuds to get active noise cancellation, and they have Google's Silent Seal 1.5 to help block unwanted ambient audio. The ANC also has transparency mode – and we've given it a try in our early Pixel 2a hands-on.

In addition to ANC, the Buds 2a also have spatial audio, and the sound quality should be a step up from the previous Google Pixel Buds A thanks to the redesigned internal acoustics around the 11mm dynamic driver.

The Bluetooth version is 5.4, and the buds are powered by Google's Tensor A1 chip, enabling you to take advantage of Pixel-specific features such as Clear Calling, Find Hub, and easy multipoint connections for switching between devices.

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And as you'd expect they work with Google's Gemini to control your audio and get answers to questions – in particular, the latest 'Live with Gemini' variation of the service for real-time responses.

Battery life is a decent seven hours with ANC on, rising to 20 hours of total playback via the charging case; turn off the ANC and you can expect 10 hours / 27 hours. The case is rated IPX4 for dust and water resistance and the buds are IP54. For the first time, the battery in the charging case is replaceable, which is a nice touch (though it tends to be the battery in the buds that needs replacing most).

The Pixel Buds 2a cost $129.99 / £129 / AU$239 and come in two colors: Hazel and Iris. You can pre-order them right away, but they're not due for release until October 9th, 2025.

Iris, meet Hazel; Hazel, meet Iris. (Image credit: Google)What's new in the Pixel Buds Pro 2

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have been around for a while now, but Google is giving them a significant upgrade – and there's a new color option, Moonstone, to match the Google Pixel 10 phone range. All of the improvements other than the new color will be delivered to existing users via a free software update.

From September 2025, Pixel Buds Pro 2 will have Adaptive Audio, which is Google's take on adaptive noise cancelling, reducing distractions and the volume of sound around you without completely removing your situational awareness. That comes alongside Loud Noise Protection, an AirPods Pro 2-style feature that can quickly shut down unexpected loud noises.

September is also when the Pixel Buds Pro 2 get head gesture control so you can pick up calls and reply to texts hands-free, and when they'll get improved audio processing for using Gemini in noisier environments.

They'll also have Live with Gemini support, and will now provide useful notifications about your battery level of the earbuds' case, so you're never caught short.

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Google has officially unveiled its new Pixel lineup, with the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold having debuted at Made by Google 2025.

We’ve spent time with all four new models, and for our early thoughts on each, check out our hands-on Google Pixel 10 review, hands-on Google Pixel 10 Pro/XL review, and hands-on Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review.

If, however, you’re after a whistle-stop tour of Google’s latest hardware and software upgrades, we’ve detailed five key things to know about the Google Pixel 10 lineup below.

1. New Pixelsnap accessories

(Image credit: Google / Future)

Let’s kick off with Pixelsnap: a built-in, magnetic Qi2 wireless charging technology for the entire Pixel 10 line.

Much like Apple's MagSafe technology, Pixelsnap lets you snap wireless chargers, stands, grips, and other accessories to your chosen Pixel 10 model. The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold can charge at up to 15W using Pixelsnap, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL gets a higher 25W ceiling.

Google debuted its own suite of Pixelsnap accessories alongside the Pixel 10 line – including a magnetic charger, a magnetic stand, and a magnetic ring tool to set your phone upright – but the technology is also compatible with existing MagSafe accessories from Apple and third-party brands like Belkin.

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Suffice to say, this is a big deal for Google and the future of Android phones. Until now, all Android users (except for HMD Skyline owners) have been forced to buy adhesive magnetic rings and bulky magnetic cases to magnetize their devices, but Pixelsnap builds a magnetic ring into the Pixel devices themselves.

Here’s hoping we see other Android phone makers launch similar magnetic charging systems soon (looking at you, Samsung).

2. New AI camera tricks

Another new feature of the entire Pixel 10 line is Camera Coach, which uses AI to help you take better photos.

This Gemini-based software tool can analyze a scene in the Pixel 10 viewfinder and offer suggestions on how to improve your shot. For instance, Camera Coach can tell you which shooting mode to use, how best to frame your subject, and suggest other useful pointers for getting the most out of your Pixel 10's cameras.

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Alternatively, if you want to improve a photo you’ve already taken, the Pixel 10 introduces Edit with Ask Photos, which, as the name suggests, lets you ask Gemini for specific photo edits. You can request improvements to things like sharpness or lightning, or even ask Gemini to add AI-generated content straight to your image.

3. Real zoom for the Pixel 10

The Google Pixel 10 has three rear cameras (Image credit: Google)

Sticking with cameras, Google has finally added a dedicated telephoto camera to its base Pixel flagship.

The Pixel 10 gets a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom, which is the same telephoto camera as you’ll find on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Thankfully, Google hasn’t ditched any of the other cameras to make room for this new lens on the Pixel 10, so you’ll still have wide and ultra-wide shooting options to choose from. The company has, however, dropped the resolution of the latter camera from 48MP to 12MP.

Of course, for the best Pixel cameras you’ll want to go for the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL, which both sport a 48MP telephoto sensor and offer up to 100x digital zoom. That said, we’re glad to see Google finally equip its base model with a capable zoom camera this year.

4. Tensor G5 chipset

The Google Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)

Every Pixel 10 model is powered by the new Tensor G5 chipset, which Google says is the most significant upgrade to the Tensor platform since its debut five years ago.

Compared to the Tensor G4, the G5 boasts a 34% faster CPU and a 60% more powerful TPU – that's Google's custom Tensor Processing Unit, which handles machine learning workloads – so you can expect smoother performance, faster AI processing, and better battery efficiency from every Pixel 10 phone.

The Tensor G5 is also paired with the new Titan M2 security chip, which offers baked-in security features like automated call screening, malware protection, and even a built-in VPN.

While we’re not expecting the Tensor G5 to compete with the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple’s A18 Pro chipset in terms of raw power, it should deliver a clean – and crucially, secure – software experience.

5. IP68 rating for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

(Image credit: Google)

At first glance, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks very similar to its predecessor, and while it is pretty much the same size and thickness, it benefits from a true world-first in the foldable category: an IP68 resistance rating.

An IP rating – IP standing for ingress protection – defines how well a device can prevent dust (first number) and water (second number) from entering its chassis. An IP68 rating means the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is resistant to both water and dust, which is a selling point that not even the Galaxy Z Fold 7 can boast.

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For reference, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shipped with an IPX8 rating, meaning it offered the same level of water protection but no dust protection whatsoever.

An IP68 rating means the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is now just as secure as the very best Android phones – and that's a big deal for not just Pixel Fold fans, but foldable fans more generally, as it suggests future foldables from other brands could benefit from the same level of protection.

Other durability upgrades for Google’s new foldable include a new gearless hinge, which Google says will stay strong for over 10 years.

So, there you have it: five key things you need to know about the Google Pixel 10 lineup. For a deeper dive into all four new products, check out our aforementioned hands-on reviews, and stay tuned for our full Pixel 10 reviews in the coming weeks.

Are you tempted by any of Google’s new Pixel products? Let us know in the comments.

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• The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X finally have their release date set for October 16, 2025
• Previous leaks suggested the devices would release on October 16, with pre-orders opening on August 20
• Pre-orders aren't live yet and pricing is unconfirmed, but should arrive in the coming weeks

It's been a long time coming, but the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds finally have a release date, after their initial announcement during the Xbox Showcase earlier in June.

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will both be available on October 16, 2025, launching in multiple regions, including the UK, Australia, and the US (the ROG Xbox Ally will launch in China early next year).

Pre-orders aren't live yet, and pricing is still unknown, despite recent leaks and rumors suggesting a price tag close to $1,000 for the ROG Xbox Ally X. Xbox says both of these details will be shared in the coming weeks, which could be an indication of pre-orders opening in September.

The leaks previously hinted at pre-orders going live on August 20. While this hasn't exactly panned out as suggested, it's the date that was expected for Xbox and Asus' announcement of a release date, and the rumor of an October 16 release date was spot on.

Taking cues from the Steam Deck

Xbox has also announced a 'Handheld Compatibility Program', which appears to follow in the footsteps of Valve's SteamOS and the Deck Verified system. This will help players identify which games are playable or compatible with their Xbox Ally device. It will also come alongside a feature called 'Windows Performance Fit' indicator, which will help 'reflect expected performance on their supported device'.

To ensure a console-like handheld experience, Xbox is using an Advanced Shader Delivery feature, built to preload any game shaders during downloads, to dive right into games once ready.

These features are expected to come alongside the 'full-screen experience' that is supposed to help streamline the handheld experience on Windows, without unnecessary background processes and more RAM for games.

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• BCNYS suffered a cyberattack in February, and discovered it in August
• Sensitive personal, payment, and healthcare information, was stolen
• There's no evidence of in-the-wild abuse yet

The Business Council of New York State (BCNYS), an association representing businesses, chambers of commerce, and professional organizations across New York, has confirmed it suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive information on tens of thousands of people.

The BCNYS filed a report with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, in which it confirmed the breach, and detailed the type of data that was stolen - in total, 47,329 individuals were potentially affected by the incident, when unidentified cybercriminals stole full names, Social Security numbers (SSN), dates of birth, state identification numbers, financial institution names, financial account and routing number information, payment card numbers, PINs, payment card expiration dates, taxpayer identification numbers, and electronic signature information.

It also included health data such as names of medical providers, information on medical diagnosis and conditions, prescription information, data regarding medical treatment and procedures, and healthcare insurance information.

How to stay safe

The incident apparently happened in late February 2025, but BCNYS did not notice it until early August, when it kicked off an investigation and notified relevant authorities.

So far, there is no evidence that the stolen files were used in identity theft, phishing, or other cybercrime - but of course, this doesn’t mean it’s not happening, or that it won’t happen.

Hackers can use stolen data to open bank accounts or credit lines, make unauthorized purchases, file false tax returns, and even access medical services or prescriptions under someone else’s name.

Victims should place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus, monitor bank and credit card statements daily, and sign up for identity theft protection or credit monitoring, since BCNYS does offer it, free of charge.

They should also change passwords and enable multifactor authentication on all accounts, notify their banks and insurers of potential fraud, and request an IRS Identity Protection PIN to block fake tax filings.

For the medical data, victims should review insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements and contact providers to flag any suspicious medical activity.

Via BleepingComputer

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If you’ve been looking to upgrade your smart home, it looks like Philips will have you covered with a brand new Philips Hue Bridge Pro that boasts some impressive (in cases almost needlessly so) capabilities.

Signify, the company behind the Philips Hue brand, accidentally leaked the existence of the new Bridge a few days ago alongside spoilers for new lights and a wired video doorbell, but yet another leak – this time via Lowe's – has clued us into what upgrades the Bridge Pro boasts beyond general promises of it being faster and able to support more devices.

Lowe's runs a program called Loop, which gives customers free samples of new and pre-release tech, and it looks like one such item is the Philips Hue Hue Bridge Pro. Several people have shared images and asked questions about the product on social media – with one tester being completely unsure what to do with the new Bridge Pro as they have no Philips Hue smart lights. 9to5Google reports that some people have even taken to Facebook Marketplace to sell their Bridge Pros.

These shenanigans have given us some key details. Firstly, the Bridge Pro can supposedly support 150+ lights – a huge increase from the current limit of 50. That might seem like overkill for smaller homes, but will pique the interest of anyone who's currently using multiple Bridges to cover their whole house.

The Philips Hue Bridge Pro also promises to offer full home control, so you could rely on this Matter-compatible hub to manage more than just Philips Hue technology.

(Image credit: Philips Hue)

The other, much more interesting addition is Hue MotionAware tech, which promises to turn your lightbulbs into motion sensors. Exactly how this works hasn’t been revealed, so it’s not clear which Hue smart bulbs will support this upgrade, but it seems rooms with three bulbs or more will be able to detect people walking past and react accordingly.

It's possible that it might use something like the ambient sensing technology that the Communication Standards Alliance showed off in a video earlier this year. Ambient sensing is a use case built by a company called Ivani to demonstrate what's possible using the Zigbee wireless protocol (which is used by Philips Hue devices).

Now that would be smart, and might give me a reason to fill my home with smart bulbs.

Even with these serious leaks we should take details with a pinch of slat – though if you ask us it certainly seems it’s a matter of when not if Philips will debut the Bridge Pro.

IFA looks to be a likely event that'll happen – given the Berlin tech show is due in only a couple of weeks and Philips has debuted tech there before – but we’ll have to wait and see.

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Cyber threats are increasing in both scale and sophistication, prompting businesses to significantly ramp up their investment in security. From firewalls to threat intelligence feeds, today’s enterprises have access to an expansive arsenal of digital defenses. Yet despite this unprecedented spending, breaches are still occurring, and systems are still underperforming. In fact, according to the Logicalis 2025 CIO report, 88% of organizations experienced cybersecurity incidents in the past 12 months, and 43% endured multiple breaches.

The same research found that over half of CIOs surveyed say their security patching systems have become too complex to manage effectively. What’s more, 50% acknowledge that they are not getting good value from their security tools because the features go unused. In other words, CIOs are spending more, but they are spending inefficiently, and in some cases, ineffectively.

The growing complexity of security systems could become one of the biggest vulnerabilities in enterprise IT.

The illusion of more

Over the past decade, the IT market has exploded with tools. The typical security stack has grown exponentially in response to emerging threats, new regulations and gaps that have been revealed when a breach elsewhere sets off alarm bells. While each solution is well-intended, its cumulative effect can be counterproductive.

Rather than strengthening security posture, the “more is better” approach has led to environments where vulnerabilities hide in plain sight. In fact, only 58% of CIOs feel confident in their ability to identify potential security gaps. This highlights a troubling disconnect between IT leaders’ awareness of cyber risk and their actual capacity to defend against it. The very tools designed to safeguard the business can end up creating blind spots. When security systems become too complex, they overwhelm teams, slow down decision-making, and give threats more time to cause damage.

Simple but effective

Simplifying cybersecurity doesn’t mean cutting corners or weakening defense areas, it's about assessing tools with intent in order to create a manageable system.

This can start with a foundational assessment: what are we trying to protect and why? What tools overlap? Where are the gaps? Which capabilities are going unused? Where is the complexity slowing the team down?

Organizations need a clear, continuously updated understanding of their digital assets, attack surfaces, and business priorities. Maintaining an accurate asset inventory is more than good cyber hygiene, it’s essential to prioritizing risk and responding quickly when incidents occur.

From this foundation, businesses can begin to:

• Consolidate tools - Through the use of integrated platforms, businesses can protect multiple areas at once. They offer layered security for various elements of a business in a single unified framework, increasing visibility and reducing the operational load on already stretched IT teams
• Outsource - Outsourcing functions such as monitoring and threat detection, and patching to security specialists frees up internal resources to focus on more strategic initiatives
• Introducing automation - Manual processes can often be overwhelming, time-consuming and prone to error. Automation can slash task times and help with overall efficiency
• Align security purchases with business outcomes - By ensuring spend is directly tied to business objectives, businesses can direct their investments to where matters the most

This urgency to simplify is further underscored by the tightening of global regulations such as the EU AI act. A growing wave of privacy and data protection laws is pushing businesses toward greater transparency and accountability. These regulations demand that organizations have their systems in order, as they may be required at any moment to produce records and demonstrate clear, auditable compliance.

With this approach, businesses can build a leaner security posture where threats are anticipated instead of constantly chased. By taking bold, proactive steps to streamline cybersecurity today, businesses will be far better equipped to handle the risks and seize the opportunities of the digital landscape now and in the future.

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

There’s a quiet but profound transformation underway in how businesses interact with backend systems. It’s not a flashy app or piece of consumer technology - it’s happening at the infrastructure level, where machine learning, automation, and natural language processing are beginning to rewrite how software is built, configured, and controlled.

At the heart of this shift is Machine Communication Protocol (MCP), a new approach being pioneered by fintech leaders like Stripe and Adyen. MCP allows large language models (LLMs) to interact directly with APIs - automating the translation of human intent into technical execution. It’s a change that could streamline how software engineering teams operate, empower business users, and reduce the friction between what people want and what systems deliver.

Although the idea sounds abstract, it’s already being tested in a very practical context: payments. The infrastructure behind every transaction is now where we’re seeing some of the earliest, most meaningful applications of MCP. In this sense, payments teams are acting as canaries in the coal mine for a much broader shift across the software engineering world.

What is MCP and why does it matter?

At its core, MCP is a way for LLMs - like ChatGPT - to interact with APIs on behalf of a user. Traditionally, if a business wanted to make a change to its backend system (say, issuing a payment link or modifying risk rules), someone - typically a developer - would have to write an API call, handle authentication, test responses, and integrate it into workflows.

With MCP, that integration layer is abstracted, and a user can issue a request in natural language - “Create a PayByLink for £100 in EUR” - and the LLM handles the translation, executes the API call, and returns the result. It can even ask follow-up questions to clarify intent. The entire interaction becomes conversational, not code based. Adyen recently demonstrated this in a proof-of-concept and Stripe launched a similar capability at its Sessions conference in May, positioning it as part of a longer-term bet on LLMs reshaping developer workflows.

For the user, it feels seamless. For the underlying system, it’s a major shift - automating the middle layer that once required deep technical fluency.

Why start with payments?

Payment systems are already heavily API-driven and deeply embedded in enterprise architecture. But despite their flexibility, they’ve historically been gated by technical teams. Every change - like adding ApplePay or updating parameters - requires someone in engineering to write code, test logic, and deploy updates.

That works, but it creates bottlenecks. In developer-centric environments like Stripe’s, MCP represents a way to streamline workflows. In enterprise-first setups like Adyen’s, it’s about empowering operations, product, and risk teams to make changes directly - without joining a development queue or waiting for a sprint cycle.

In both cases, MCP moves control closer to the people who understand the business problem - and speeds up the cycle from intent to execution.

Implications for software engineering

MCP doesn’t just matter to payments - it’s an early example of something much bigger. It signals how software engineers and infrastructure management may evolve over the next few years.

MCP doesn’t eliminate the need for technical expertise. But it does change the role. Software engineers may move from executing tasks to supervising them - designing secure, auditable systems that allow AI agents to operate safely and effectively.

In that sense, MCP isn’t just a new interface - it’s a new paradigm. One that requires engineers to think like systems architects and strategic enablers, rather than gatekeepers of functionality.

Still early, but moving fast

Adyen’s POC is limited, Stripe’s implementation is still evolving, and right now, most MCP use cases are simple: generating a payment link, updating a rule, querying a transaction status, but it won’t stay that way for long.

MCP-based workflows could soon handle more complex interactions - onboarding new markets, configuring multi-step authentication, deploying checkout experiments, or dynamically routing transactions - all through natural language.

That won’t stop with payments. MCP could apply to any API-rich system: cloud infrastructure, observability platforms, compliance tooling, data pipelines. The building blocks are already there. The real question is how quickly engineering teams adapt.

The next phase of engineering won’t be about who can write the cleanest Python. It will be about who can define intent clearly, interpret outcomes effectively, and manage AI-driven systems responsibly.

MCP is just the beginning. The businesses - and engineers - that understand what it unlocks will be the ones shaping what comes next.

We've featured the best business intelligence platform.

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

• Sony has unveiled two new audio products ahead of Gamescom 2025
• The Inzone H9 II is an overhauled version of an existing gaming headset
• The Inzone E9 is a pair of FPS gaming earbuds

Just ahead of the start of Gamescom 2025, Sony revealed a suite of new products for its Inzone gaming accessory line. This includes two new bits of gaming audio gear: the Inzone H9 II gaming headset and the Inzone E9 gaming earbuds.

The Inzone H9 II is an overhauled version of the existing Inzone H9. It features the same driver unit as the superb Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, which achieved four and a half stars thanks to its excellent audio performance in our recent review.

You also get full active noise cancellation and the ability to tweak the equalizer (EQ) settings through the compatible Sony Sound Connect up on PC and PS5.

The Inzone H9 II boasts a wide-band adjustable boom microphone complete with AI-optimized noise filtration technology to help cut out background interference. It's also fully detachable, unlike its predecessor.

The II comes in lighter, too, at just 260g, which is presumably a result of its slimmer-looking headband and more streamlined mic.

The Inzone H9 II is available to pre-order now in either white or black for $349.99 / £299.99 and will ship in September.

Image 1 of 2

The Inzone H9 II at Gamescom 2025. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The Inzone E9 at Gamescom 2025. (Image credit: Future)

The Inzone E9 is a pair of in-ear gaming earbuds that comes with a USB-C audio box that can store your customized EQ settings.

They were developed in collaboration with the esports team Fnatic and are intended for "elite FPS play". They cost $149.99 / £129 in either white or black and are up for pre-order now with shipping in October.

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• Researchers spot cybercriminals abuse bug to access a cloud Linux server
• The hackers then proceeded to patch the flaw, closing the doors behind them
• There could be different reasons for fixing flaws

A hacker was recently spotted patching someone’s vulnerable cloud Linux instance - but they did not do it out of the goodness of their heart.

Security researchers Red Canary observed a threat actor abusing a maximum severity flaw, tracked as CVE-2023-46604, to break into a cloud Linux system.

The vulnerability is found in Apache ActiveMQ, and grants persistent access, among other things - but however, after breaking in, they patched the bug, essentially locking the doors behind them.

DripDropper

Red Canary argues that there are different reasons why a cybercriminal might fix a problem after exploiting it, including locking out other adversaries, or hiding their tracks.

The latter makes a lot of sense, especially knowing that cybercriminals often fight for control over different compromised endpoints.

Besides patching the flaw, the hackers did a number of things, including installing the Sliver implant, which granted them unrestricted access to the system.

They also modified the existing sshd configuration file to enable root login, and after that installed a previously unknown downloader that Red Canary named “DripDropper”.

The downloader itself is rather advanced, requiring a password to run, which hinders sandbox analysis.

It communicates with the threat actors via a Dropbox account that has hardcoded bearer tokens, and since Dropbox and similar platforms (Telegram, or Discord) are not malicious by nature, the traffic blends in and is harder to spot. Finally, DripDropper is most likely used to deploy two separate pieces of malware.

Red Canary says that vulnerable web servers are one of the most common initial access vectors to Linux systems.

“Given the prevalence of *NIX-based, or Unix-like systems in modern infrastructure, particularly in rapidly expanding cloud environments, ensuring they’re protected is essential,” the researchers said.

“This requires the development of specialized incident response strategies tailored to the complexities of both cloud architectures and Linux environments and ensuring defenders are equipped with effective, actionable guidance to safeguard these critical assets."

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• A new citizen-led initiative can now help you have your say about the controversial EU child sexual abuse (CSAM) scanning bill
• Experts are concerned about the negative impact the bill will have on citizens' communications privacy and security
• The Danish version of the so-called Chat Control could be adopted as early as October 14, 2025

If you're in the EU, you can now take action against the controversial child sexual abuse (CSAM) scanning bill, which is currently being discussed in the EU Council, thanks to a new citizen-led initiative.

Deemed by critics as Chat Control, the proposal was first unveiled in May 2022 to halt the spread of CSAM content online by scanning all communications, especially those that are encrypted.

A proposal that has attracted strong criticism and pushback among experts and lawmakers alike, Chat Control has never been closer to passing. The Danish version of the bill could be adopted as early as October 14, 2025.

(Image credit: Fight Chat Control, Mastodon)

"Our goal is to empower citizens with the knowledge they need to understand the implications of this legislation and to encourage them to take action by contacting their elected representatives in the European Parliament and national governments," explain the people behind the Fight Chat Control initiative, launched on August 6.

The website includes easy-to-understand information about the CSAM scanning proposal, while tracking the positions of EU Member States and EU representatives.

By heading to the Take Action tab, you can contact your country's MEPs within a couple of clicks to ask them to scrap the controversial proposal. The website drafts the message for you based on your concerns about the proposed law.

"We believe that privacy is a fundamental right, and that end-to-end encryption is essential for protecting our personal communications, financial information, and digital identities. The Chat Control proposal would undermine these protections, potentially exposing citizens to new security risks and surveillance without meaningful benefits."

What's next for Europeans' chats?

From its first unveiling in 2022, the Chat Control proposal has seen many twists and turns as privacy advocates, technologists, and even politicians raised concerns. Worries for which the Council has failed to find an agreement.

The most contentious point is around encryption, the technology that the likes of WhatsApp, Signal, encrypted email providers like ProtonMail, and even the best VPN apps use to ensure the content of your communications remains private from you and who you are talking to.

Over the years, the EU Council has tried to find a compromise – without any success.

As per its first version, all messaging software providers would be required to perform indiscriminate scanning of private messages to look for CSAM. The backlash was strong, with the European Court of Human Rights proceeding to ban all legal efforts to weaken the encryption of secure communications in Europe.

In June 2024, Belgium proposed a new, more compromising text to target only shared photos, videos, and URLs, with users' permission. In February 2025, Poland tried to find a better compromise by making encrypted chat scanning voluntary and classified as "prevention."

Fast-forward to July 2025, Denmark reintroduced Chat Control as a top legislative priority on its first day of Presidency, and put forward a new compromise text, which former MEP for the German Pirate Party and digital rights jurist, Patrick Breyer, deemed the "more radical version" so far.

Crucially, momentum is growing among EU member states backing up the legislation. At the time of writing, according to Fight Chat Control's latest data, 15 member states support the law (including France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Ireland), nine are undecided (such as Estonia, Germany, and Belgium), and only three oppose the bill in its current form (Austria, Netherlands, and Poland).

On September 12, 2025, the Council is expected to share its final positions, with the vote set to take place on October 14.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, August 20 (game #1304).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1305) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• Q

• S

• W

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1305) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1305, are…

• QUEST
• SPARK
• WHITE
• ACUTE

In every case today it was a three-letter combination that helped me find the correct word – U-T-E led to ACUTE, I-T-E to WHITE, E-S-T to QUEST and S-P-A to SPARK.

On a day where Q made a rare appearance, I’m pleased to have got through without an error. However, I was brought crashing down to earth by the far trickier Daily Sequence, where it took me five attempts to get FOUND.

Daily Sequence today (game #1305) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1305, are…

• FOUND
• CRAVE
• ALLAY
• WRECK

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE