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Not only has Netflix confirmed that Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 is set to air on November 4, 2025, but it’s also swiftly followed-up with the announcement that season 3 is also underway. This comes two weeks after the hit K-drama wrapped up for good with its own third season, which ended with an unexpected cameo that may (or may not) lead into David Fincher’s American remake.

In 2023, Netflix answered the question we all had on our lips – how would we all fare if Squid Game was real? It put 456 real-life players to the test, competing for the largest cash prize in reality TV history ($4.56 million). Games such as Red Light, Green Light and Dalgona carried over from the hit Netflix series, while new games, such as Battleships, were substituted for genuinely fatal ones, such as Tug of War.

Netflix has already told us to expect “new games and new rules,” with logic telling us each of the first three seasons of The Challenge should replicate the same fictional series. If that’s the case, Squid Game: The Challenge season 3 already has a huge problem on its hands with its most perilous game of all.

Squid Game season 3’s Jump Rope scene would be almost impossible to replicate in The Challenge

Of course I’m talking about Jump Rope, which appeared in episodes 3 and 4 of Squid Game season 3. In the episode, 16 players were eliminated with only 8 passing, including Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) managing to carry Kim Jun-hee’s (Jo Yu-ri’s Player 222) baby over safely. The rules are simple: cross from one side of a suspended path to the other while two giant robots wield a rotating jump rope across its path. There’s a gap in the middle of the pathway, making this slightly more perilous than season 1’s Tug of War. Teams were on two suspended platforms of this, with a giant guillotine cutting the rope when one team lost.

Squid Game: The Challenge season 1 did manage to replicate Glass Stepping Stones, with players falling to their ‘deaths’ while crossing a similarly suspended bridge made out of fake glass. However, it can’t be compared to Jump Rope, which has a closer level of actual danger to the binned-off Tug of War. Namely, both share one singular trait that makes a real-life version impossible – they’re an absolute health and safety nightmare.

The minute you have sharp things, flying things and any part of a game where players risk serious injury, there needs to be a Plan B. It might be one of the best streaming services around, but even Netflix won’t want to risk a lawsuit just for the sake of replicating the K-drama scene by scene. The safer option is to introduce a brand-new game nobody is expecting, which gives more reasons for subscribers to keep tuning in.

Then there’s the fact even the cast of Squid Game season 3 filmed the Jump Rope scenes using CGI. The robots are green screen, the suspended bridge is actually non-existent, and really, it’s just Lee Jung-jae making his own legs wobble while his feet are firmly planted on the ground.

Are we likely to see Jump Rope in Squid Game: The Challenge? I say no. And considering Battleships was my favourite game in the reality TV contest, I’m ready for some unexpected change.

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• Experts show how some AI models, including GPT-4, can be exploited with simple user prompts
• Guardrail gaps don't do a great job of detecting deceptive framing
• The vulnerability could be exploited to acquire personal information

A security researcher has shared details on how other researchers tricked ChatGPT into revealing a Windows product key using a prompt that anyone could try.

Marco Figueroa explained how a 'guessing game' prompt with GPT-4 was used to bypass safety guardrails that are meant to block AI from sharing such data, ultimately producing at least one key belonging to Wells Fargo Bank.

The researchers also managed to obtain a Windows product key to authenticate Microsoft's OS illegitimately, but for free, highlighting the severity of the vulnerability.

ChatGPT can be tricked into sharing security keys

The researcher explained how he hid terms like 'Windows 10 serial number' inside HTML tags to bypass ChatGPT's filters that would usually have blocked the responses he got, adding that he was able to frame the request as a game to mask malicious intent, exploiting OpenAI's chatbot through logic manipulation.

"The most critical step in the attack was the phrase 'I give up'," Figueroa wrote. "This acted as a trigger, compelling the AI to reveal the previously hidden information."

Figueroa explained why this type of vulnerability exploitation worked, with the model's behavior playing an important role. GPT-4 followed the rules of the game (set out by researchers) literally, and guardrail gaps only focused on keyword detection rather than contextual understanding or deceptive framing.

Still, the codes shared were not unique codes. Instead, the Windows license codes had already been shared on other online platforms and forums.

While the impacts of sharing software license keys might not be too concerning, Figueroa highlighted how malicious actors could adapt the technique to bypass AI security measures, revealing personally identifiable information, malicious URLs or adult content.

Figueroa is calling for AI developers to "anticipate and defend" against such attacks, while also building in logic-level safeguards that detect deceptive framing. AI developers must also consider social engineering tactics, he goes on to suggest.

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• Quantum computers will soon be able to break modern-day encryption
• When that happens, nation-states can abuse the tech to steal sensitive files
• Organizations need to prepare today, Capgemini says

Sooner or later, quantum computers will be able to break through today’s encryption, and when that happens, critical industries such as defense, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and others, will be at risk of nation-state attackers with enough resources to use the advanced tech for nefarious purposes such as espionage or data theft, research has warned.

In fact, many nation-states are likely harvesting encrypted data already, in preparation of that “Q-day” moment - an attack dubbed “harvest now, decrypt later”.

A new report from the Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,000 organizations with annual revenue of at least $1 billion across 13 sectors and 13 countries in Asia–Pacific, Europe, and North America, finding the majority of the respondents (around 70%) are referred to as “early adopters” - meaning they’re either working, or planning to work on quantum-safe solutions, within the next five years.

Harvest now, decrypt later

Capgemini’s researchers found that two-thirds (65%) of respondents are already concerned about the rise of “harvest-now-decrypt-later” attacks, with one in six early adopters believing “Q-day” will happen within the next five years.

Even more, around 60%, believe Q-day will happen within a decade from now.

To mitigate the risk, businesses in vital industries should transition to post-quantum protections as soon as possible.

“Transitioning early ensures business continuity, regulatory alignment, and long-term trust,” said Marco Pereira, Global Head of Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure Services at Capgemini.

“Quantum safety is not a discretionary spend but a strategic investment, which can turn a looming risk into a competitive advantage. The organizations that recognize this fact early will best insulate themselves against future cyber-attacks.”

The report also states that most organizations surveyed (70%) are already protecting their systems against emerging quantum threats through a mix of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms.

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• Intel's CEO has reportedly addressed staff members worldwide
• Lip-Bu Tan seemingly laid out some very frank observations and clear goals
• All this indicates a focus on streamlining and also breaking into the AI arena - though not to catch Nvidia directly, but with so-called edge AI

Intel's (relatively) new CEO has apparently admitted the gravity of the struggles the company is facing, but it seems that Lip-Bu Tan does have a recovery plan - and a realistic sounding one at that.

The Oregonian reported on a recording of a Q&A session with Tan (spotted by Tom's Hardware), which was seemingly broadcast to Intel staff worldwide, and some very interesting comments were made by the chief executive.

Take all these quotes with some caution, then, but we're told Tan observed: "20, 30 years ago, we are really the leader. Now I think the world has changed. We are not in the top 10 semiconductor companies."

It's a frank admission, and one of many that were made here. Tan said that the layoffs currently underway at Intel mark the start of a 'marathon' effort to make the company more nimble and agile, like rivals such as AMD and Nvidia - and that Intel needed to be 'humble' now.

The CEO further admitted that "there's a lot of work to do" in terms of recovering from losing data center market share (turf where AMD's Epyc chips have been making serious headway).

A tough time for Intel

Intel has, of course, faced multiple problems in recent history, and the thorniest of these (as far as consumers are concerned) is the various bouts of misfiring around Team Blue's more recent desktop processors. That includes instability woes with previous-gen CPUs and a disappointing performance from current-gen Arrow Lake chips in terms of their gaming prowess, all of which have very much tarnished Intel's reputation among PC buyers and enthusiasts out there.

Tan did note that Intel's PC business is "doing a bit better" but that it needed to strengthen its architecture in terms of meeting the demands of 'advanced computing', and a key area is AI.

In the sphere of AI, Tan was again candid in terms of Intel missing the boat, saying that: "On [AI] training I think it is too late for us," as Nvidia is just "too strong" in this market at this point, which is clearly the case.

However, Tan envisages an inroad for Intel in terms of edge AI, meaning bringing AI directly onto devices (as opposed to accessing it online, via the cloud). The CEO enthuses: "That's an area that I think is emerging, coming up very big, and we want to make sure that we capture."

Another big opportunity for Intel, going by Tan's playbook-in-the-writing, is agentic AI, the likes of chatbots that can autonomously handle tasks - at least to an extent. Down the line, we're looking at proactive AI taking action towards set goals (rather than simply reactive bots).

In order to progress Intel's AI ambitions, we're told some big hires are being made, including three new vice presidents who have been brought on board to better tap into the AI arena.

Analysis: A defined vision (in theory) - and a brutal kind of clarity

(Image credit: Intel)

Tan is under no illusions as to the task ahead, and his words are chosen to reflect that (again, with the caveat that we must be suitably skeptical around these quotes). This is going to be a marathon, and Intel's turnaround won't happen quickly - and the road to recovery is a rather brutal one.

The Oregonian (OregonLive) had previously reported on plans to lay off 529 Intel staff in Oregon, which is supposedly happening next week, and other job losses in California, Arizona, and Israel, all of which we've been hearing about recently (and none of which has been publicly confirmed). Manufacturing jobs are being cut by up to 20%, marketing is being shuttered and outsourced, and the automotive division is being shut down.

Okay, so all this remains rumors, but there's a feeling of a clearer direction and more of a sense of realism here, compared to the Pat Gelsinger era (the previous CEO at Intel). A focus on streamlining is, as noted, a difficult choice to make, but refocusing is clearly necessary to some extent. It's no secret Intel's in trouble, especially as its latest architecture, the 18A process, is rumored to be floundering, with Team Blue switching to promote the successor, 14A, at least for external customers.

AI is obviously a high-value target to capitalize on, as well, and Tan's plans again sound realistic - not trying to catch Nvidia, but to have Intel carve out its own territory in terms of on-device AI. Indeed, there's already a rumor that with its next generation of desktop processors, which is in theory Arrow Lake Refresh arriving later this year, Intel is focusing on implementing a much beefier NPU (chip to accelerate AI tasks on the device). That could allow for Copilot+ features on a desktop PC for the first time ever, as I recently discussed elsewhere in more depth.

Some of the pieces of this puzzle may already be moving into place, then. It's going to be interesting to watch what signals - and words - Tan employs in future official statements and earnings calls, and indeed whether this humbler and more realistic vein of thinking, as rumored here, emerges.

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• PC shipments are rising, but they're being influenced by tariff impacts
• Notebooks are way more popular than desktops
• Consumers could be upgrading en masse next year

Although President Trump's tariffs continue to create uncertainty in the PC industry, new figures have suggested device shipments continue to rise, and now could be the best time to upgrade if you're in the market.

During the second quarter of 2025, industry experts at Canalys tracked 67.6 million units shipped globally, up 7.4% year-over-year.

IDC, another market research firm that tasks itself with monitoring the industry, tracked 68.4 million shipments, marking a smaller but equally healthy 6.5% year-over-year increase.

PC shipments continue to rise

A recent US-Vietnam trade deal has introduced a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods, and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods such as Chinese parts that have gone on to be assembled in Vietnam, helping to keep a cap on costs for consumers.

At the same time, we're also seeing more vendors increase stock as they hoard low-cost devices before tariff uncertainty irons itself out, potentially resulting in costlier tariffs for certain imports.

Although desktops (9%) saw greater growth than notebooks (7%), notebooks still account for around four in five of all PC shipments globally.

However, much of the growth can be attributed to enterprise customers. Businesses have been more active than consumers in upgrading devices in response to the upcoming Windows 10 end-of-support, with consumers more likely to hold onto their device for longer.

Although Macs only account for around one in ten PCs shipped, Apple saw the healthiest quarterly growth of 21.3% thanks to strong demand for new M4-powered models, and the company could be in for similar growth next quarter, with its back-to-school deals coming into force in the final days of last quarter.

Looking ahead, demand could grow as more consumers look to upgrade their devices, potentially pushing up prices and making now the best time to upgrade.

Canalys Research Manager Kieren Jessop explained: "We anticipate the consumer PC market to grow next year as it coincides with a potential refresh cycle of COVID-era devices, which are starting to reach their end of life."

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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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, July 11 (game #1264).

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 #1265) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1265) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1265) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1265) - 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 #1265) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• N

• C

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1265) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1265, are…

• WREAK
• NANNY
• CLASP
• STAIN

Another tricky round.

My major triumph today was resisting the temptation to guess class after deducing that I had a word beginning with C-L-A. On the flipside, I labored to get WREAK, guessing bread and freak before finally getting it.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1265) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1265, are…

• ADAGE
• INANE
• STAVE
• CLONE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, July 11 (game #761).

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 #762) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PERIOD
• UNIFORM
• CHAMPION
• MINUTE
• VICTOR
• SECOND
• ECHO
• DAY
• ELABORATE
• AGE
• BACK
• SUPPORT
• PARTICULAR
• KILO
• TIME
• THOROUGH

NYT Connections today (game #762) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Cheerleader
• GREEN: Exact
• BLUE: Portions of time
• PURPLE: Spelling 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 #762) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ENDORSE
• GREEN: DETAILED
• BLUE: ERA
• PURPLE: IN THE NATO ALPHABET

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

NYT Connections today (game #762) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #762, are…

• YELLOW: ENDORSE BACK, CHAMPION, SECOND, SUPPORT
• GREEN: DETAILED ELABORATE, MINUTE, PARTICULAR, THOROUGH
• BLUE: ERA AGE, DAY, PERIOD, TIME
• PURPLE: IN THE NATO ALPHABET ECHO, KILO, UNIFORM, VICTOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 mistake

My one mistake today came in failing to get the ENDORSE group correct and putting VICTOR instead of BACK in the quartet.

This minor setback aside I found this quite an easy Connections and even managed to get the hardest group – IN THE NATO ALPHABET.

Knowing all the words that make up this spelling alphabet used around the world is very useful for when you have to spell things out for officials – such as D for desirable, I for incredible, S for super sexy, C for such a cutie, O for Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh. When really you should be telling them that disco is spelled D – delta, I – India, S – Sierra, C – Charlie, O – Oscar.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, July 11, game #761)

• YELLOW: COMPANIES THAT HAVE BECOME VERBS
• GREEN: SILLY PERSON
• BLUE: KINDS OF SONGS 
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SYNONYMS FOR "DESPICABLE" 

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, July 11 (game #495).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #496) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In the ballpark

NYT Strands today (game #496) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• DOLE
• CLUE
• ANGER
• STUN
• PLUMP
• BUNCH

NYT Strands today (game #496) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #496) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #496) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #496, are…

• GLOVE
• PEANUTS
• HELMET
• PITCHER
• BULLPEN
• JAMBOTRON
• SPANGRAM: STADIUM

• My rating: Hards
• My score: 2 hints

I managed to scrape through today’s search without any knowledge of baseball apart from Field of Dreams and League of Their Own – not that either movie had a JUMBOTRON – and needed two hints to complete the search.

One of the things I find most annoying about watching live sport on TV is crowd shots and in particular that moment when a fan is just about to spot themselves on the big screen as someone close to them taps them on the shoulder and the camera cuts away before we see their reaction.

That said, if you ever take a child to a live game in a STADIUM this will often be the thing that excites them the most. Not the world class athletes performing in front of them or the thrill of being in a crowd, no it’ll be the Mexican wave and the moment they almost appeared on the jumbotron.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, July 11, game #495)

• SONNET
• LIMERICK
• EPIC
• ELEGY
• HAIKU
• BALLAD
• ACROSTIC
• SPANGRAM: POETRY

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Huzzah! You've survived another week of work – and there's only one thing you need to do now. Okay, watch Superman in your local theater, but then there's only one thing left to do: put your feet up and find something new to watch on the world's best streaming services.

There's an eclectic mix of new movies, shows, and documentaries worth watching, too. From Bosch's latest spin-off to a Dexter sequel show, here's what you won't want to miss this weekend. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Ballard (Prime Video)

Ready to step back into the murky underbelly of LA? In another expansion of Amazon's crime drama universe Bosch, one of the best Prime Video shows has received another spinoff (the first being Bosch: Legacy) in Ballard.

This time, the titular Renée Ballard, a homicide detective, is the protagonist. She has the same grittiness of Harry Bosch, but operates more within the confines of police procedure – even if filing a complaint against the department gets her ostracized.

Relegated to a new role as head of an underfunded cold case division, Ballard uncovers new evidence in long forgotten crimes that lead to an even bigger conspiracy she wasn't expecting. Maggie Q reprises her role as the lead investigator and is mesmerizing in all 10 episodes, which are now streaming on Prime Video. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Ballard on Prime Video

Brick (Netflix)

Picture this: you suddenly find that you're trapped inside of your home by a mysterious magnetic brick wall blocking all the exits. Where did it come from? What does it mean? And most importantly, how do you get out?

One of July's new Netflix movies Brick has an intriguing premise reminiscent of escape the room plots that you'll recognize from films like the horrifying Cube, Saw, and The Platform. It's got everything you'd expect: suspense, survival, and a character arc that overcomes adversity, but it's been slammed by critics for being pretty slapdash.

So, it's by no means one of the best Netflix movies, but the Netflix German thriller does tackle an intriguing puzzle that might lure you in. – AS

• Watch Brick on Netflix

Foundation season 3 (Apple TV+)

Apple TV+ is home to myriad fantastic sci-fi series. And, if you're not watching Foundation – i.e. one of its best genre offerings – yet, you're missing out, especially if you're an avid fan of epic space operas.

Foundation season 3 has just made its debut and it further cements its claim as one of the best Apple TV+ shows around. Check out my Foundation season 3 review to find out why.

This season's first episode is out now on Apple's streaming service and, while new chapters will be released every Friday, you've got two seasons' worth of story to catch up on if you haven't seen it yet. Whether you're a fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, Dune or numerous other tentpole sci-fi franchises, you'll love what's on offer here, trust me. – TP

• Watch Foundation season 3 on Apple TV+

Too Much (Netflix)

Lena Dunham's new Netflix show lives up to the hype (read my Too Much review to learn more). She's effortlessly staying more relevant than ever behind the camera (and in front, with a cheeky appearance in episode 1), but Megan Stalter is a delectable leading lady of this project, which even goes as far as to show her releasing her own 'London Bridge' music video with Fergie.

Let’s get one thing straight, though: this isn’t Girls 2.0. There’s still a decent amount of chaos and day-to-day drama in Too Much, but Jessica’s (Stalter) solo transformational journey is elevated by her move across the pond. It’s Jessica’s world and we’re just living in it, complete with an endless list of celebrity cameos that are each somehow better than the last in one of the best Netflix shows I've seen in a while. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment writer

• Watch Too Much on Netflix

Opus (Max)

What do you get when you cross The Bear's Ayo Edebiri and acting stalwart John Malkovich in the confines of a rural commune? An absolute maniacal experience for everyone involved known as Opus. Okay, reviews have been mixed, but it would be lazy to compare it to a pop-culture rehash of Midsommar.

Before the ridiculously unhinged ending of one of the best HBO Max movies, it’s probably not a surprise to learn Malkovich is incredibly casting for our reclusive pop icon, with both his mindset and musical performances leaving us disorientated. Nobody is more confused than Edebiri’s ingénue writer Ariel, and it’s her naive sense of fearlessness that continues to raise the stakes. It’s also worth keeping your eye out for who’s in the background – Lil Nas X and Lenny Kravitz are among those with uncredited roles as super fans in this A24 flick that's out now on HBO Max. – JV

• Watch Opus on Max

Dexter: Resurrection (Paramount+)

I never got the hype around Dexter when it first aired, but I can appreciate it's been popular enough to become a franchise in its own right.

Its longevity won't be called into question anytime soon, either, with the release of Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount+. The sequel to Dexter: New Blood, aka the first sequel to the original series, reunites us with Michael C. Hall's antihero who – spoilers – survived a near-fatal shooting in New Blood. Now fully recovered, he's on the trail his son Harrison, who was responsible for pulling the trigger.

Dexter Morgan's first two TV productions are some of the best Paramount+ shows around, so don't be surprised if this one is similarly well received and/or becomes a hit with general viewers. – TP

• Watch Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount+

One Night in Idaho: The College Murders (Prime Video)

You might not think of Prime Video as a go-to for bingeable true crime series, but One Night in Idaho: The College Murders isn't one to be missed.

In November 2022, four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in an off-campus residence, with suspect Bryan Christopher Kohberger sentenced to four consecutive life sentences earlier this month.

Rather than being sensationalist, this documentary is a tender examination of who the four students were, and shows how their families and friends of have dealt with, or continue to dealing with, their grief. – JV

• Watch One Night in Idaho: The College Murders on Prime Video

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Disney+ movies, best Hulu shows, best Prime Video movies, and best Max shows.

After Tracy Ifeachor posted a cryptic Instagram post all but signing off from her time playing Dr. Collins in The Pitt, TV Line confirmed the actress will no longer be returning for the hit HBO Max show’s second season. Variety later followed up with a report that “the decision was made by the show’s creative team; Ifeachor is not leaving The Pitt of her own accord.”

What this will mean for a second season remains unclear, with rumors on social media platforms like Reddit alleging a variety of differing explanations f. Dr. Collins left halfway through season 1 when it was revealed she had a miscarriage in the ER toilets after initially keeping her pregnancy a secret.

The Pitt season 1 has no doubt been one of the best TV shows of the year so far, but there’s now some doubt cast over The Pitt season 2 with Ifeachor’s sudden exit. Where Dr. Collins and Dr. Robbie (Noah Wyle) were initially set up as enemies-to-lovers, with their budding romance now threatening to be left unresolved.

Dr. Collins and Dr. Robbie’s strained relationship can’t be revived in The Pitt season 2

Tracy Ifeachor (Dr. Collins) and Noah Wyle (Dr. Robbie) in The Pitt. (Image credit: HBO Max)

Despite Dr. Collins intentionally getting pregnant as a single mother rather than with a partner, the chemistry between her and Dr. Robbie couldn’t be denied. She was initially introduced in The Pitt season 1 as a hard-nosed, unapproachable leading medic, marching to the beat of her own drum rather than working collaboratively as a team. She vanished before the shift got even worse later in the day (no spoilers here, but if you know, you know), leaving enough time to focus on her personal life being at odds with her professional one.

She was sent home shortly after the miscarriage, and it feels as though her arc has now had a firm line drawn under it. If online rumors are true, writers will want to draw the least amount of attention to her exit as possible, probably being explained with a brief one-liner as the ER once again descends into chaos. Annoyingly for us, this means Dr. Collins’ relationship with Dr. Robbie was never going to reach its full potential.

The pair are just as complex and flawed as each other, making their somewhat unexpected coupling all the more satisfying to dig into. Just before she was sent home they were at their easiest truce, tentatively leaning into physical affection while letting their guards down. With Dr. Collins gone, Dr. Robbie’s romantic guard might now be built straight back up, making him more vulnerable to external pressures in his working life (we all remember the episode 14 meltdown).

It’s a crying shame, and doesn’t seem like a move fans, nor the show’s cast, actually want. We were expecting her triumphant return in The Pitt season 2, which is set to take place ten months after season 1 over the Fourth of July weekend. Now, she’s potentially a forgotten part of HBO history, and that’s doing a huge disservice to everyone involved.

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• French police detained Daniil Kasatkin at the request of US authorities
• His lawyer says Kasatkin bought a used computer, and he is completely innocent
• Kasatkin was allegedly denied bail

A Russian professional basketball player has been arrested at an airport under suspicion of being a ransomware cybercriminal.

On June 21, 2025, French authorities arrested Daniil Kasatkin at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Kasatkin is a 26-year-old basketball professional, playing for MBA Moscow in Russian VTB United League.

He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2019, and was apparently arrested at the request of US authorities.

Russia demands consular access

Kasatkin’s lawyer, Frederic Belot, told French news agency AFP his client is basically PC-illiterate and that he could not have done any ransomware attacks:

“He bought a used computer. He did absolutely nothing wrong. He’s shocked,” Belot told AFP. “He’s useless with computers. He can’t even install an app. He didn’t touch anything on this computer. It was either hacked, or sold to him by a hacker who wanted to pass himself off as someone else.”

Speaking to Reuters, Belot seemingly acknowledged that the computer was used for cybercrime.

"Kasatkin simply used a second-hand computer he purchased without changing the system username. The account was undoubtedly hacked and was remotely controlled by cybercriminals without Mr. Kasatkin's knowledge," Belot said.

Following news of the arrest, Russia's embassy in Paris demanded consular access to Kasatkin, Reuters also said. "The embassy is dealing with the situation related to the detention of Russian citizen Daniil Kasatkin in France," the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy also slammed French authorities for being too slow: "This is not an isolated case when we are faced with a delay in the issue of consular access to a Russian citizen."

The Times of India reports that the French court denied bail for Kasatkin, who is now facing extradition to the United States. The name of the ransomware group he was allegedly part of was not disclosed, but the same publication claims the group struck more than 900 organizations between 2020 and 2022.

Via TechCrunch

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• Gemini has been spotted on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with One UI 8
• There's been no official announcement from Samsung just yet
• Google's promised to bring Gemini to Samsung and Sony earbuds

Google has been replacing the Google Assistant with Gemini for a while now, and that rollout is now extending to third party products.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the first third-party earbuds to get a Gemini upgrade, but they won't be the last: Google has promised to bring Gemini to more Samsung headphones and to Sony ones, too.

The news comes via Android Authority, which notes that the rollout appears to be happening very quietly: it's simply appeared on devices as a default voice assistant option on devices running the One UI 8.

If you select that option, the 'Hey Google' command calls up Gemini rather than the old Assistant.

Which earbuds are getting Google Gemini?

(Image credit: Sony)

We don't know the specific models just yet, but Google promised back in May that Gemini would be coming to a range of devices "plus earbuds from Sony and Samsung".

This means it's likely that we'll see the update appear for at least the most recent models such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 as well as their successors, which we think may arrive within the next few months.

As for Samsung models, we're waiting for the official announcement and more specifics. So far we only know about Galaxy Buds 3 Pro compatibility via the One UI 8 update, but we don't know if users with One UI 7 will also be supported – or which other Samsung models will also get the upgrade.

Google's investing lots of time, energy and money in Gemini: just yesterday it announced a bunch of new features coming to Android, including a big upgrade for foldable phone users, improved Gemini search and the beginning of Gemini integration with native phone apps such as Samsung's Notes, Calendar and Reminders apps.

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Superman has taken flight in theaters worldwide, but I suspect some of you are already asking yourself when it'll be available to watch at home. The short answer is: I don't know, but that won't stop me from speculating on its eventual home release.

In this guide, I'll predict when the first DC Universe (DCU) film will be viewable on HBO Max in nations where that this streaming platform is available. For those of you who live in countries where it isn't, such as the UK, I'll also offer my thoughts on which service it may launch on, too.

When can I watch Superman on HBO Max?

Hopefully, it won't be too long until you can stop looking up when Superman will fly onto your TV (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

As I alluded to in this article's introduction, James Gunn's Superman movie doesn't have an HBO Max release date yet. However, I can use some of Warner Bros' other 2025 film releases to speculate on a possible home launch.

Take A Minecraft Movie, for example. One of the highest-grossing new movies of the year debuted in theaters on April 4. It was later released on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on June 20. That means 77 days passed between Warner Bros' movie adaptation of Minecraft landing in cinemas and joining HBO Max's movie library.

Meanwhile, Sinners, a supernatural horror period piece from Ryan Coogler, arrived in theaters globally on April 18. It earned a spot on our best HBO Max movies list when it landed on the streamer on July 4. Again, 77 days came and went between its big- and small-screen debuts.

If we use that pair as a guide for Superman's eventual release on HBO Max, it isn't likely to air on the streaming titan until September 26. That date will mark 77 days since the Man of Steel's latest cinematic adventure flew into theaters on July 11, so it's the best guess I can make at this time. Once an official launch date is confirmed, I'll update this section.

Which streaming services might Superman launch on in nations where HBO Max isn't available?

The DC Comics icon's latest film should be available on other streaming platforms later this year (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

If you live in a country where HBO Max hasn't launched yet, don't worry. Superman, aka the first DCU Chapter One movie, should come to other streaming platforms before 2025 ends.

The first place it should be available is on video-on-demand (VoD) services that allow you to rent or buy movies. So, you'll want to look on Prime Video, as well as online stores owned by Sky, Microsoft, and Apple, to watch the DC Comics film.

My best guess? Keep an eye out on these platforms towards the end of August, which is when Warner Bros. may start to offer Superman on these platforms. That said, depending on how well it performs at the global box office, Warner Bros. may extend its theatrical run into late August, which might mean you won't be able to rent or buy it until sometime in September.

But what about streamers that you're already subscribed to and pay a monthly fee for? This is a trickier question to answer because Warner Bros' comic book films have appeared on various platforms over the last few years.

However, there are some services that are more likely to offer Superman 'for free' – i.e. as long as you have a paid-for account, you can watch any film in a platform's back catalog – than others. So, based on where other DC comic book films are available now, or services they recently appeared on, read the below list to see which ones will be the most plausible homes for Superman. Once I know more about when and where one of the most exciting DCU movies and shows will be available to watch at home, I'll update this section.

• Australia – Binge or Stan
• Canada – Crave or Netflix
• India – Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema, or Prime Video
• New Zealand – Neon
• UK – Sky/Now TV

For more Superman- and DC comic movies-based coverage, read the section below.

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• Researchers find four flaws in the BlueSDK Bluetooth stack
• They can be chained into the "PerfektBlue" RCE attack
• Multiple car vendors are allegedly affected

Security researchers have discovered four vulnerabilities in the BlueSDK Bluetooth stack which could be chained together for remote code execution (RCE) attacks.

This stack is used by multiple vendors across different industries - including car manufacturing giants Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Skoda (and possibly others).

In theory, a threat actor could abuse these flaws to connect to a car’s infotainment system, and from there - eavesdrop on conversations, grab the contacts list from connected devices, track GPS coordinates, and more.

Can an attack be pulled off?

The bugs are not that easy to abuse, though, but first - let’s get the formalities out of the way.

The four vulnerabilities were found by PCA Cyber Security, and are tracked as CVE-2024-45434, CVE-2024-45431, CVE-2024-45433, and CVE-2024-45432. Their severity ranges from low to high, and are found in different components of the stack.

Together, they were dubbed “PerfektBlue”. A threat actor looking to abuse them only needs one click from the victim - to accept the pairing of the bluetooth device with the vehicle. In some cars, even that is done automatically and without the victim’s input.

PCA Cyber Security reported its findings to OpenSynergy, the company maintaining the BlueSDK Bluetooth stack, in June 2024. A fix was deployed in September the same year. However, the fix must then be applied by car manufacturers, and according to PCA Cyber Security, this hasn’t been done yet.

Only Volkswagen is currently investigating the matter, and gave a rather long list of prerequisites that need to be filled before the bug can be exploited, hinting that the risk isn’t that big:

- The attacker must be within a maximum distance of 5 to 7 meters from the vehicle, and must maintain that distance throughout the attack
- The vehicle's ignition must be switched on
- The infotainment system must be in pairing mode
- The vehicle user must actively approve the external Bluetooth access of the attacker on the screen.

Via BleepingComputer

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• ABC's long-rumored Scrubs revival is officially in development
• The popular medical comedy-drama ran for nine seasons between 2001 and 2008
• It'll air on ABC and Hulu in the US, but there's no word on where it'll be available internationally

It's time to dust off your medical coats and pagers, Scrubs fans, because the popular medical comedy-drama's long-rumored revival is actually happening.

First reported by Variety and later confirmed on the TV show's various social media channels, the Zach Braff-fronted project has been given a straight-to-series order by US network ABC for the 2025/26 TV season. That means at least one season will be made, and it'll air sometime before August 2026.

Posted by scrubs on 

As confirmed on Scrubs' official Facebook page, it'll launch on ABC and Hulu in the US. However, there's no word on where international audiences will be able to watch it. My best guess is it'll come to Disney+ – indeed, ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ are all owned by The Walt Disney Company, so it makes sense that the last of those three services would be Scrubs' international home. I've reached out to Disney for an official comment, and I'll update this piece if I hear back.

Unsurprisingly, Scrubs doesn't have a concrete release date, nor is there any official word on whether it's a full-scale reboot or soft revival of the original TV show. Variety and ABC have announced original cast members Braff, Donal Faison, and Sarah Chalke are returning as John Dorian (more commonly known as J.D), Chris Turk, and Elliot Reid, though. The latter is the more likely scenario, then.

The new series' plot brief provides further evidence that it'll be a TV revival. Per ABC: "JD and Turk scrub in together for the first time in a long time. Medicine has changed [and] interns have changed, but their bromance has stood the test of time. Characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart, and some surprises along the way."

Bill Lawrence, who developed the original series, and co-created Apple TV+ hits Ted Lasso and Shrinking, is returning to steer the show's revival. Braff, Faison, and Chalke will executive produce Scrubs 2.0 alongside Lawrence. Tim Hobert and Aseem will serve as showrunners and executive producers.

Opinion: don't dissect Scrubs on the operating table, please

Will any of Scrubs' other main cast members return for its TV revival? (Image credit: NBC)

Delighted as I am that Scrubs is coming back, I am concerned it might lose what made the original unmissable viewing in the early to mid-2000s.

As the revival's story synopsis indicates, there have been significant advancements in the medical industry since Scrubs originally debuted on NBC. The same is true of society, so I expect Scrubs 2.0 to be a more progressive and inclusive series than its predecessor was. I'll be alarmed, then, if some of the original run's outdated jokes and/or stereotypes are retained.

That said, I hope Scrubs' reboot doesn't stray too far from other aspects that made the original so great. Keep the single-camera format. Bring back other characters from the show's first run, even if they only appear in supporting or cameo roles. Ensure it's as witty, slapstick, and sarcastic as its forebear. And, perhaps most importantly, make its melodrama and emotional scenes kick me in the gut and/or make my heart soar.

Do everything I've outlined in the above paragraph, and I'm sure Scrubs will be one of the best Hulu shows and best Disney+ shows whenever it's ready to be discharged from the hospital and lands on two of the world's best streaming services. Fail to do so, though, and the reboot's first season might also be its last.

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• Google reportedly set to offer the US Government discounts on cloud services
• It's already discounted its business software earlier this year
• Other hyperscalers are also discounting their cloud services

Google has become the latest in a growing list of tech companies to offer heavily discounted services to the US government, this time for its cloud services.

As reported by the Financial Times, the deal, which could be finalized within a matter of weeks, reflects an emerging trend across the sector, with tech firms all bidding to win big government contracts with attractive discounts.

The trend comes in response to President Trump's efforts to centralize government spending – by buying in bulk, Trump apparently hoped to secure bigger discounts, and that's exactly the response he has seen.

US government unlocks major Google Cloud discounts

Although Google and the General Services Administration (GSA) are yet to share any details regarding the reported discounts, we know that other technology firms have also shared major discounts recently.

This includes Oracle, which is offering the US government a 75% discount on license-based software and "substantial" discounts on other cloud services.

As Oracle and Google are both offering discounts on cloud services, and they're likely to be joined by others, it's unclear whether the White House is set to choose one supplier, or if it will spread services across different operators.

Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services are also expected to offer comparable discounts to maintain competition against their hyperscaler rivals.

Although Google's latest discounts have not been confirmed, the company did offer a 71% discount on business apps earlier in 2025, which was set to save the US government up to $2 billion.

TechRadar Pro has asked Google to share any details on ongoing negotiations with the GSA, but we did not receive an immediate response. Any updates will be posted here in due course.

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• Windows 11 has a new Black Screen of Death (BSoD) rather than blue
• It simplifies the current BSoD as well as changing the color
• The problem is that it perhaps goes too far with the streamlining, and looks rather too much like a Windows update being applied

Windows 11 is getting a new design - and color - for the infamous 'screen of death' that appears when the system completely locks up and needs to be rebooted.

The Verge reports that after 40 years of the Blue Screen of Death, we're now getting a Black Screen of Death - handily still abbreviated to a BSoD - and it looks quite different to the current version in Windows 11.

In a change we already knew was in the pipeline, Microsoft has simplified the existing BSoD and removed the frowny face along with the on-screen QR code. The new black-colored screen for system crashes is far more streamlined and is currently being deployed in testing to the Release Preview channel.

In the blog post for that new Windows 11 preview build, Microsoft explains: "A more streamlined interface appears during an unexpected restart [system crash]. This updated design aligns with Windows 11’s visual style and helps you return to work faster. The screen displays a more readable layout while keeping the technical details visible. This screen appears with a black background."

You can see the new black screen below, which is mostly a simple message: "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart."

That's pretty vague, of course, but for those interested in more detail, there's a stop code (error message) at the bottom of the screen, as well as a pointer as to 'what failed' (info on which system file was involved in the error).

With this move now present in the Release Preview build, it means that the redesigned BSoD will be coming to the finished version of Windows 11 soon.

(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)Analysis: Crashing bore

Tackling these tweaks one by one, let's start with the QR code, which has been banished. Am I going to miss that? No, in a word, and I doubt many other people will, either. The idea was to scan it and get a fuller picture of the details of the crash presented to you, but it never really imparted any useful information, just a generic support blurb. (And sometimes users weren't quick enough to be able to scan the code on-screen, anyway).

As for dispensing with the frowny face, I guess the argument for this is that it looked rather clunky, or arguably even childish, but it did serve an important function of sorts: making it clear that a 'bad thing has happened' (TM).

Here we come onto the issue with the new-look BSoD in my opinion (and not just mine): that it isn't so clear that an error has occurred. The design looks very similar to a standard Windows update, particularly with the new black background, along with the 'percentage complete' counter.

And so folks who don't read the thing properly – and those people are definitely out there – may be confused as to what's going on. A further niggle is that having the screen black may feel a bit more intimidating – I've certainly seen this point raised before - as blue is a friendlier color, black is a bit doom and gloom-y.

At any rate, I think a visual backup to the 'device ran into a problem' text would be handy. Okay, you don’t need a giant frowny face, but there could be some kind of graphic to indicate that an error has occurred, mainly to differentiate the BSoD screen from an update.

It wouldn't be that difficult for Microsoft to make that tweak, of course, and the company might just do that, depending on feedback to the new BSoD. In theory, though, it's a tricky change to test; in the final preview channel, crashes should be unlikely, so not many Windows Insiders (AKA testers) will see it. (It's also worth noting that in early preview versions, the BSoD is actually a GSoD - a green screen).

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We don’t even have a release date for Virgin River season 7 yet, but Netflix has confirmed Virgin River season 8 has already been green lit. The news comes a week after season 7 wrapped shooting, officially making it the longest-running original series on the streaming service.

Though we won’t expect season 8 episodes to hit until 2026 at the earliest, season 7 is rumored to be released sometime in December 2025. That means we only have season 6 to speculate about where the show could go. The most recent season left us with five key cliffhangers to lead us into future episodes, and it’s unknown how many of these will go as far as season 8.

However, the early renewal news for the hit Netflix show now makes one of the cliffhangers from season 6 a lot less likely to be true, and that’s good news for anyone who hasn’t been a fan of the surrogate storyline.

Mel and Jack might not become parents until Virgin River season 8

Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) in Virgin River. (Image credit: Netflix)

Season 6 finally saw Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) get married, and Mel later approached by client Marley (Rachel Drance) with a proposition to be a surrogate mother for the couple. Marley’s prospective parents have pulled out of the adoption process at the last minute, with Marlely wanting Mel and Jack to have the baby instead. We haven’t seen Mel answer yet, but the news of season 8 means the plot could be less likely to stick.

Why? We’ve got two reasons. Firstly, Netflix loves to drag out the small-town storylines we’re desperate to see – not even a year has passed in Virgin River in the entire six seasons we’ve seen on screen. Secondly, the original book series tells us Mel and Jack ended up having two biological children, and making a family of four takes time.

Put our pessimistic hats on and we might think Marley’s proposition turns out to be nothing, or in a worst case scenario, a total scam. However, this very well might be the case. The dramatic u-turn happened in the last few moments of season 6 episode 10, with absolutely nothing earlier on in the series to indicate there were any problems. The expectant couple were overly protective of Marley during her clinic sessions with Mel, so this could easily be a moment of panic that gets resolved later down the line.

On top of this, we also want to see Mel win. She’s struggled with fertility issues since before she arrived in town, suffering yet another miscarriage in season 5. Fans will want to see Mel and Jack have children on their own terms (biologically or not) more than anything, and Netflix would be incredibly cruel to not deliver on that.

As Virgin River season 7 fast approaches (we hope), keep your eyes on the surrogacy storyline. My money is on it coming to nothing, making Virgin River season 8 the crowning moment of our romantic leads finally starting a family.

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• Screen-free pistol-grip digital camcorder with analog controls
• Four vintage-inspired filters and choice of aspect ratios
• Available for pre-order at the end of July

Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but I’ve long wanted to get my hands on the stunning 21st-century version of the Kodak Super 8. Now I’ve found something that scratches that itch without also requiring that I re-mortgage my house: the Camp Snap CS-8.

Kodak revived the Super 8 last year, and it’s truly something special. Supplied in a custom-made, foam-lined Pelican Case complete with a 6mm detachable lens and pack of 8mm film, the 2024 take on the iconic 1960s home movie camera can shoot both analog and digital video and is built to unimpeachable standards. The eye-watering asking price reflects that: it’s $5,495 (about £4,350 / AU$8,450).

For those seeking a shot of nostalgia at a cost that’s slightly more palatable, there’s always the option to pick up a good-quality original Super 8 camera on the used market. Or you could just go cheap, modern and digital. Step forward the Camp Snap CS-8, launching very soon.

The Camp Snap CS-8 camcorder in action. (Image credit: Camp Snap)

If the name rings a bell, it’s because the Redondo Beach, California-based company Camp Snap is responsible for the tiny, distinctive and vibrant screen-free point-and-shoot digital camera of the same moniker. Oozing retro appeal and available in a wide array of color finishes, this stripped-back 8MP snapper is yours for a mere $69.95 / £53 / $110 (and it resides in our best cameras for kids guide).

Clearly, the Camp Snap doesn’t perform like a Fujifilm X100IV – and in fact it’s kind of missing the point to even compare it to what most of us might class as a “real” digital camera. But I think its simplicity and “in the moment” unobtrusiveness makes it perfect for documenting weekend trips or handing to kids who want to take their first steps into photography. The basicness is the point.

Pull that trigger

The Camp Snap CS-8 brings that very same low-tech, high-charm approach to a digital camcorder. Just like the film-based Super 8s of the past, it sports a pistol grip design – recording when the user holds down the trigger, stopping when it’s released. A small electronic viewfinder is used, but only for live composition – there are no menus to browse through and no options to play back recordings in-camera. Recording are instead stored on SD card (a 4GB card comes in the box) and can be off-loaded to your computer via USB-C (also used to recharge the battery).

The CS-8 comes with a selection of digital filters and the option to flip between four aspect ratios (1:1, 9:16, 4:3 or 16:9) on the fly, allowing users to record social media-ready clips without the need for any off-camera editing. All of these are selected by twisting old-fashioned dials, while remaining battery life and storage can be tracked by glancing at the needle’s position on an analog meter. The only other control you need to worry about are the buttons that zoom in and out.

The price for all this retro gorgeousness? A mere $199 (which currently converts to around £147 / AU$302), with pre-orders starting on 31 July. That's just 3.64% the price of Kodak's new Super 8.

Camp Snap has sent us a CS-8 to test, so look out for a full, in-depth review here very soon. Do let us know in the comments if there’s anything in particular you’d like us to focus on when we take this old-timer camcorder for a test drive.

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Low-code and no-code platforms have made app development dramatically more accessible. But building something like the NHS App is less about front-end design and more about navigating one of the most sensitive, fragmented, and highly regulated data environments in the UK.

At a glance, the NHS App looks like any other app on our phones - a convenient interface to access services like test results or prescriptions. But under the hood, it relies on deeply complex, often outdated infrastructure. The technology that enables these patient-facing features must operate across hundreds of hospitals, each with bespoke, often decades-old systems.

This isn’t unique to healthcare. Engineers in aerospace, nuclear, and defense face similar integration challenges: mission-critical systems built in the 1970s are still live today, propped up by domain experts who have spent decades maintaining them. You can’t simply switch these systems off. Instead, transformation must work around them - modernizing from within, while preserving service continuity.

The backend challenge

Digital transformation in healthcare is notoriously fragmented. While most CTOs can relate to the frustrations of siloed systems, healthcare takes it to another level. The latest generation, and leading Electronic Health Record in the UK by market size (25%) was optimistically named for the then upcoming Y2K.

Other systems are even older and, in some cases, the only people who understand how they work have delayed retirement simply to keep things running. These highly complex systems are the backbone to hospitals and are mission critical.

This creates significant challenges for integration. There are no clean REST APIs, no plug-and-play data gateways. Interfacing with these systems means navigating non-standard specs - or worse, undocumented ones - requiring deep insider knowledge. Where standards do exist (HL7, FHIR) these are implemented differently by different vendors, and even with a single vendor they can be used differently in practice within the same hospital.

Often, the first step in any digital upgrade is untangling the gap between what a system technically holds and what’s happening on the ground. Data must be restructured, manipulated, and reconciled to reflect real-world operations.

Even once technical integration is achieved, operational change can lag behind. True transformation requires hospitals to rethink ways of working - not just adopt new tools. The real value lies in modernizing these practices: digitizing clinic-by-clinic workflows, automating manual processes, and aligning backend data structures with real-life patient journeys.

This backend burden is a familiar challenge across industries. In sectors from banking to logistics, transformation depends on stitching together legacy platforms with modern APIs, standardizing data, and building for edge cases. But healthcare adds further complexity: regulatory scrutiny, cash-strapped buyers, disconnected procurement processes, and risk-averse culture all slow innovation.

Even promising national tools like the NHS’s Federated Data Platform (FDP) have struggled to gain traction - not because the technology isn’t sound, but because it's often a “solution in search of a problem,” lacking alignment with day-to-day clinical needs.

Trust and adoption

Front-end platforms like the NHS App can support behavioral change - but only when the experience is consistent, intuitive, and clearly beneficial. Users don’t trust apps because they exist. They trust apps because they deliver.

In many sectors, this is well understood. Healthcare could learn from Amazon’s model of standardized checkout, delivery and returns. We need to move from a patchwork of inconsistent user experiences to a standardized, streamlined journey that just works, regardless of provider.

The NHS App is, rightly, pushing hard for a common user experience. It looks like a single app but is actually powered by numerous 3rd party platforms that do the last mile integration to the myriads of hospital systems. The NHS App has a well-defined design system, and every platform it integrates with undergoes user journey testing for each new feature added to the app.

Even with this approach, there is a limit to how consistent it can feel for a patient. Getting full coverage of all appointments in the country will eventually require integrating with all the old legacy systems and not all of those support modern workflows.

Right now, patient experience with the NHS App varies widely. Some trusts enable rich appointment functionality. Others don’t. Some integrate with backend systems; others rely on manual workarounds. This inconsistency creates friction - and undermines adoption.

System-wide integration

The NHS App is a valuable interface - but it currently only accounts for 16% of patient interactions. The real work lies behind the scenes: integrating ancient systems, transforming operational practices, and ensuring that clinical and admin teams can trust and use the data in front of them.

Time will tell if the government’s plans to ramp up the app’s functionality as part of its 10 Year Plan will be successful.

This isn’t a healthcare-specific lesson. For developers building systems in any regulated, data-sensitive industry, the message is the same: front-end transformation is only possible when backend systems are integrated, legacy infrastructure is respected (but modernized), and user trust is earned through consistency.

Ultimately, scaling change isn’t about the app. It’s about what happens before the user ever opens it.

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