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Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: One-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is different from its predecessors. The Classic series crops up every two years like clockwork, and all feature that rotating bezel, which serves as a way to interact with the watch.

However, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and Watch 4 Classic bear a resemblance to their namesake mainline entries in the Galaxy Watch series, the Watch 8 Classic draws more from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

This new influence means the body is a whole different shape to the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which has slimmed down by 11% to become the thinnest Galaxy Watch yet. The Classic is still chunky, and features the Ultra’s programmable Quick Button in addition to the rotating bezel. The Quick Button can be programmed and used in many different ways, from starting your most-used workout to opening music controls. The rotating bezel also allows you to scroll through apps, lists, and messages without using the touchscreen.

These two features, combined with voice commands aided by the Google Gemini AI assistant, mean you have lots of different ways to interact with the watch, which is great. The bezel feels smooth in use, and it feels very natural to use the wheel to scroll through long passages of text and lists of apps alike.

Other new features include sleep apnea detection, a new Running Coach with 160 running plans to recommend and track, useful redesigned software (including new at-a-glance app collection displays and a minimalist widget called a Now Bar, which lives on your watch face when a task is running in the background) and of course, that previously mentioned AI assistant. It’s also got Samsung’s existing suite of features, such as a BioActive heart rate sensor, sleep coach recommendations, accurate body composition, and lots more.

I’ve only tested the watch for a very short time alongside the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, but it certainly seems to be the full package, inside an attractive but thick and chunky casing.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Bluetooth-only model starts at $499 / £449 / AU$ TBC
• LTE model is $549 / £499 / AU$ TBC
• Pre-orders available July 9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order now priced at $499.99 / £449 / AU$ TBC for the Bluetooth-only model. Considering the mainline Watch 8 is available for $150 / £100 cheaper, you’re paying for the upgraded stainless steel body, the rotating bezel, and the added Quick Button. LTE connectivity is available for an additional $50 / £50 in the US and UK.

This certainly isn’t a small price increase between editions, and it's a big jump from the previous-generation Classic as well: the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic started at $399 / £369 / AU$699, although that was a smaller-sized 43mm model, whereas, like the Ultra, the Classic 8 is a one-size-fits-all 46mm.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• The rotating bezel is back
• Added Quick Button
• Redesigned UI/software

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic only comes in a single size, 46mm, where 40mm and 44mm options are offered with the mainline Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. This is a watch for bigger wrists only, as it’s also thick and chunky due to the added height and heft from the bezel.

It looks and feels like a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, especially with the addition of the Quick Button – so if you liked that design, you’ll also like this one. The Watch 8 Classic's display is tied with the 8 for the brightest yet, at 3,000 nits. You also get double the internal storage of the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 – 64GB, instead of the standard 8’s 32GB.

As mentioned above, the Quick Button can be programmed for different purposes, and the bezel is used like the digital crowns on the best Apple Watches in that you use it to cycle through options, but the real magic is in the redesigned UI, which I love.

At-a-glance views now offer more information on your limited display, while a new watch face widget called the Now Bar, an idea borrowed from the best Samsung phones, allows tasks running in the background – like Timers and Workouts – to have a small presence on your regular watch face. It works very well in practice, and I loved using it.

My main design con, other than the limited size options and thickness of the watch, is the Dynamic Lug system, which is borrowed from the Galaxy Watch Ultra. I mentioned in my Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review that I found it fiddly, especially as a man with short nails.

However, it does allegedly mean there’s less case movement during exercise, and the watches (in white and black) look snappy with the leather-effect strap provided. If you’re keen to use it for exercise, especially swimming, it may also behoove you to pick up a silicone one, further inflating the price of the watch as you’ll need to buy this separately.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Aside from the design differences, many of the new features on offer are the same as the ones described in my Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review, but I’ll repeat them here. Sleep apnea detection is added to Samsung’s extensive suite of sleep-tracking features, which also includes sleep coaching, snore detection, and Energy Score.

A new Running Coach helps calibrate your running and can recommend one of 160 different training plans, intelligently switching between plans on the fly based on your performance. The new Antioxidant Index detects the level of the beneficial antioxidant carotenoids in your body, found in leafy greens and orange vegetables: if this score is low, you likely need to eat more vegetables.

Gemini on the Samsung Galaxy Watch, the first of its kind, is a headline feature here, and based on my brief hands-on time with the watch, it seems to work well in practice. My unit was only connected to a test phone wielded by one of Samsung’s representatives, but I look forward to testing its capabilities when it’s connected to my own unit.

All of this is added to Samsung’s existing suite of health tracking, fitness, and lifestyle features, which are further enhanced by third-party apps from Wear OS. These include advanced fitness features like dual-frequency GPS to better calculate runs, hikes, and rides, TrackBack to stop you getting lost, and body composition analysis to determine your ratio of fat to muscle to bone. This is surprisingly accurate: we tested Samsung’s feature against a smart scale with favorable results.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Early Verdict

I’m not as in love with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s design as I am with the minimalist Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, even though the design is this watch’s unique selling point. It’s too big and bulky for me, but I can see the appeal, and the rotating bezel’s added functionality is always a welcome addition.

However, there’s no denying Samsung has knocked its generational redesign out of the park, and I’m intrigued to see what comes of more thorough testing soon.

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, July 9 (game #1262).

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 #1263) - 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 #1263) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 4.

Quordle today (game #1263) - 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 #1263) - 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 #1263) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• W

• U

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1263) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1263, are…

• CROSS
• WHEEL
• UNDID
• PENCE

With E-N-C-E in position and just two possibilities for the first letter I picked the wrong one. In this situation I am sure most people would have chosen fence ahead of PENCE – but then again, that's probably only the case in the UK. 

These moments are what makes Quordle such fun – just when you think you’ve got all the answers it’ll kick you in the teeth.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1263) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1263, are…

• SNIPE
• ALPHA
• BATHE
• GROUP

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, July 9 (game #759).

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 #760) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DRAB
• BLOW
• MISS
• SPOKE
• TIRE
• DUCT
• WASTE
• FATIGUE
• EXHAUST
• RIM
• KHAKI
• HOSE
• LOSE
• PIPE
• HUB
• CAMO

NYT Connections today (game #760) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Circular car component
• GREEN: Army garments
• BLUE: Let it flow
• PURPLE: A chance that slipped away

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 #760) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A WHEEL
• GREEN: MILITARY CLOTHING DESCRIPTORS
• BLUE: USED IN VENTILATION
• PURPLE: FAIL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AS AN OPPORTUNITY

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

NYT Connections today (game #760) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #760, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A WHEEL HUB, RIM, SPOKE, TIRE
• GREEN: MILITARY CLOTHING DESCRIPTORS CAMO, DRAB, FATIGUE, KHAKI
• BLUE: USED IN VENTILATION DUCT, EXHAUST, HOSE, PIPE
• PURPLE: FAIL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AS AN OPPORTUNITY BLOW, LOSE, MISS, WASTE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

After a terrible streak it felt good to complete a round of Connections without making a mistake.

I can only conclude that today’s edition was an unusually easy one, even the purple would be yellow-level some weeks.

My only pause for thought was over MILITARY CLOTHING DESCRIPTORS – CAMO, FATIQUE, and KHAKI all seemed common enough, while DRAB was a guess based on how dull army clothing is.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, July 9, game #759)

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

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, July 9 (game #493).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Nap time!

NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• DECK
• TIES
• SWOT
• WORK
• SPRAY
• GUIDE

NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #494) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #494, are…

• DROWSY
• SPENT
• WEARY
• FATIGUED
• TIRED
• KNACKERED
• SPANGRAM: SLEEPYHEAD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Yesterday it was party time! And today it’s nap time! Strands was obviously anticipating quite the knees up.

To be honest I am much more familiar with napping than partying, which is possibly why I made such quick work of today’s word search.

I have been feeling nearly every word in today’s search over the past few days. It’s not due to a lack of sleep or exhaustion due to over exercise, it’s because I am attempting to give up caffeine and am experiencing some quite radical side effects including feeling constantly DROWSY, SPENT, WEARY, FATIGUED, TIRED and zzzzzzzz....

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, July 9, game #493)

• BALLOON
• BUNTING
• PENNANT
• CONFETTI
• STREAMER
• SPANGRAM: DECORATIONS

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.

• Rockerbox kept an open database online for an unknown period
• The database contained ID card numbers and other vital information
• Following its discovery, it has now been locked down

A tax credit consulting agency inadvertently exposed sensitive data on thousands of its customers by allegedly keeping a database filled with personally identifiable information (PII) open on the public internet.

It was discovered by Jeremiah Fowler, a cybersecurity researcher and analyst known for hunting for unencrypted and non-password-protected databases, and in a new vpnMentor report, Fowler said he found an archive with a total size of 286.9 GB, containing 245,949 records.

“In a limited sampling of the exposed documents, I saw files that detailed PII such as names, physical addresses, email addresses, DOB, and SSN in plain text,” Fowler explained. “There were also driver’s licenses, identification cards, SSN cards, work opportunity tax credit documents that included employment and salary information, and determination letters with acceptance or denials of eligibility.”

Rockerbox leaks

Furthermore, he observed DD214 forms - Certificates of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued by the US Department of Defense to veterans and similar military personnel. There were also password-protected PDF files labeled as “forms”, with file names containing PII such as employer names, and applicant first and last names.

Fowler attributed the database to a Texas-based company called Rockerbox, a tax credit consulting organization helping businesses increase their cash flow by identifying and managing employer-focused tax incentives through programs like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), R&D credits, and Empowerment Zone credits.

After reaching out to Rockerbox, the company closed down the archive in a matter of days, but allegedly never replied back to the researcher.

Therefore, we don’t know if the company manages this database, or if that work was handled by a third party - or if any threat actors obtained it in the past, but at press time, there was no evidence about in-the-wild abuse.

You might also like

• More than 3 million records, 12TB of data exposed in major app builder breach
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

OnePlus Buds 4: Two-minute review

It’s easy to dismiss earbuds made by smartphone companies as a cheap add-on made to sell alongside a handset, a job made easier by the fact that many are. But the OnePlus Buds 4 shows that this isn’t always the case.

Let me speak plain: these earbuds are really good for ANC. Some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds around, then? Absolutely, but that's not the end of the story – if it were, you'd be right to utter 'So, why the four-star review, not five?' and I'll get to that, I promise.

The OnePlus Buds 4 are the successors to last year’s OnePlus Buds 3, but with a little of the DNA of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. And these new fourth-gen buds are independent from OnePlus phones to such a degree that they weren’t actually released alongside any flagship handset from the company (though their launch did coincide with some new cheaper Nord 5 phones from the brand).

I appreciate it when companies do what OnePlus has done here: create buds that focus on offering a few key superb selling points that beat the competition. It ensures it’s easy to compare them positively to other buds, and makes my job of writing an intro that much easier!

One such department on the OnePlus Buds 4 is the Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC. Once the most important arms-race of any headphone maker, though now slightly forgotten in the reverse arms-race of open earbuds, ANC is still an important feature for many buyers… and the Buds 4 have easily the best noise cancelling performance in any earbuds or headphones I’ve tested at this price. It absolutely eradicates background sound, no matter how noisy, and you’d have to buy buds for double the price to get something competitive.

The design of the buds also needs to be commended. You might not be able to tell from photos, but these earbuds themselves are perhaps the lightest I’ve ever tested at under 5g (I haven’t gone through every review I’ve written to check, but quite a few!) and they’re really comfortable as a result. The case is also really small, and equally lightweight (see above, about me having written too many reviews to check these against every one). Sometimes, fantastic design isn’t a funky look or weird features or LEDs, but the meat-and-potatoes of a light, comfortable wear.

You’re getting a (mostly) fantastic feature set from the OnePlus Buds 4 too, again one of the best selections of extras in any buds I’ve tested at this price. I won’t go through them all, as I’ve already exceeded my word count in the Features section talking about them, but goodies like a listening test, Spatial Audio and high-res listening are all working well.

But wait! I haven’t mentioned how the things sound yet! That isn’t because it’s bad, just that the features and design are so great I got distracted. Like the Buds 3, there's a strong focus on bassy booming sound, but it’s much better balanced this time around. Music is punchy and exciting, with plenty of customization options to take it further.

The main issue I had with the OnePlus Buds 4? It's a big one I'm afraid: the app had a ton of connectivity problems, which really affected my experience with the buds. I need to preface this statement by saying that I used the buds before their official release and it’s very possible that by the time they are in your ears, these software kinks will be ironed out, but it's also important for me to be honest in my write ups – and this was my experience. I have tested myriad sets of earbuds, and if it was challenging to me, it will surely be for any owner.

Some buyers will also find the price increase over the OnePlus Buds 3 hard to swallow, but the significant uptick in ANC efficacy justifies it.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Unveiled in June 2025, officially launched July 8, 2025
• Costs $129.99 / £119 (roughly AU$200)
• Price hike over predecessor

The OnePlus Buds 4 became available on July 8 2025, alongside a Nord-y line-up of phones from the company’s affordable line of Androids.

TechRadar was provided with the buds’ UK price prior to launch: £119, and they've been released in the US for $129.99, which means in Australia they'll set you back around AU$200 or just above.

Many buyers will probably get these buds for free, though, as OnePlus likes to offer gadgets like this for free if you buy its mobiles.

It’s worth pointing out that this price is a noticeable hike from the $99 / £89 / AU$179 price point of the previous-gen buds, but is still far south of the $179 / £199 (roughly AU$400) price of the Buds 3 Pro.

At that price, I could hear arguments for these counting as cheap earbuds, and other points in favor of these being mid-rangers. Either way, there are lots of rivals at this price point, and you can find them described in the Competition section below.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Specs

Drivers

11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC off)

11 hours (buds) 45 hours (case)

Weight

4.73g (buds) 40g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Waterproofing

IP55

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Amazing noise cancellation
• …but we need to talk about the app
• 6/24 hour battery life (ANC on)

When I first turned on the OnePlus Buds 4’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), I was in a busy gym – it’s a great test case due to all the noises going on (and the music they play at my local is absolutely awful). I was absolutely floored by how much background sound the buds removed, which I’ll aptly summarize simply as ‘basically all of it’.

This is on the buds’ High ANC mode, which uses an algorithm to automatically adapt for wherever you are. There’s also a moderate and low, and also an Auto which… also chooses between those three automatically. You’ve also also got a Transparency mode to block out ambient noise but allow loud nearby ones, and yet another adaptive mode which selects between Transparency and standard noise cancellation. If you’ve been keeping count, that’s three different auto modes.

Using the HeyMelody app was a pain. It never remembered the buds between listening sessions so I kept having to re-add them, which was hard when it could only detect them about 50% of the time. And when it could and I pressed ‘Connect’, I wouldn’t get taken through the the app pages where I could control the buds. Oh no.

Instead a pop-up would appear telling me that I can find more settings for the earbuds by going to my phone’s Bluetooth settings. Okay, good to know. But pressing ‘Cancel’ just hides the pop-up so I need to press ‘Connect’ again, and pressing ‘Go’ just takes me to my phone’s Bluetooth settings. It took me ages to figure out I’d need to go to this menu (not a page in HeyMelody, I should add), and then select the headphones, and then press ‘Earbud functions’ which would take me back to HeyMelody. It’s an absolutely infuriating and long-winded process and I can’t imagine that this is actually how it’s meant to function.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a shame because you really do need to use the HeyMelody app as most of the Buds 4's features are within it – and because those features are some of these earbuds' biggest draws.

You’ve got OnePlus 3D Audio, the company’s version of Spatial Audio. You’ve got an equalizer, which offers a 6-band custom mode or three presets along with a separate bass booster called BassWave. You’ve got the ability to set up ways to control your phone camera with the buds, toggles for High-Res mode, a find-my-earbuds function and, most importantly Golden Sound.

Golden Sound combines two tests we infrequently see in earbuds: an ear canal scan and a listening test, which together create a custom sound profile to enhance your music. I was impressed to see results which back ups hat I’ve independent learnt about my ears (one being better than the other) and the created sound profile did mark an improvement on the buds’ sound (albeit a smaller improvement than on some other buds which also have this test).

Some other features of the Buds 4, like a live translation feature, are exclusive to owners of a OnePlus phone.

Throughout testing, the connection between my phone and the buds was flawless, with the Bluetooth never dropping once. That wasn’t the case with the app itself, as I’ve already said, and every time I plugged the buds in it defaulted to their Transparency ANC mode, so I’d have to open up the app and change it.

With all these features, and more to list in the Sound Quality section, there’s a knock-on effect. The OnePlus Buds 4 battery life is fine, but nothing to write home about, and it can suffer if you’re using all the features.

The buds have a battery life of 11 hours… with ANC switched off. Turn it on and that drops by nearly half to 6 hours, and using LHDC codec drops it even further by about an hour. The case itself has quite a bit of gas in the tank as it starts at 45 hours of listening time, dropping to 24 with ANC and 22 with LHDC.

Those are all OnePlus’ figures but my own testing backed them up. With ANC but without LHDC, I’d get just over 6 hours of listening time on one charge.

• Features score: 3.5/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Incredibly light case and buds
• Fiddly touch controls
• Black or green color options

Banish the thought of the square-cased OnePlus Buds 3; in the Buds 4, the company has borrowed the case design of the Buds Pro 3. That means it’s a pebble-shaped container that opens horizontally to reveal the top of the buds.

The case weighs 40g, so it’s very lightweight, and it’s certainly one of the smallest I’ve seen recently, clocking in at 65.4 x 52.4 x 25.3mm according to the very-specific figures OnePlus provided TechRadar.

I did find it a bit fiddly to get the buds back into the case at times, frequently putting the wrong one in the gaps. It’s probably only a concern to people who identify as klutzes, so I can’t list it as a ‘Con’, but it’s worth pointing out.

(Image credit: Future)

Like the buds themselves, the case comes in green or black. As someone who’s tested loads of OnePlus tech over the years, I’ve got to say the colors are very… ‘OnePlus-y’.

The buds weigh 4.73g so they’re incredibly lightweight. They use a stem design like previous buds from the company, so they consist of a body which stays wedged in your ear with a rubber tip, and a small stem that dangles down

Both buds have a stem that you can stroke up or down to change the volume. I found these really hard to use, as a light touch wouldn’t be triggered, and a hard one would invariably dislodge the buds in my ears. I quickly figured that it was better to stick to using my phone for volume controls. The actual double-tap controls worked a lot better though.

The buds are IP55 rated which means they’re protected against dust ingress, and can survive against low-pressure water jets. Yes, that includes sweat and rain, but I wouldn’t wear them during a water fight or while you swim.

• Design score: 4/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Sound quality

• 11mm+6mm drivers, dual DAC
• Emphasis on bassy sound
• Supports Hi-Res Audio, LHDC

(Image credit: Future)

OnePlus has absolutely stuffed the Buds 4 full of audio-specific features.

Take, for example the drivers: each has two, an 11mm woofer for bass and 6mm tweeter for the higher stuff. There’s also a dual DAC solution, offering a separate one for each driver, so let each specialise. Buds 3 Pro users might be getting some Deja vu right now.

If you’re picking up what I’m putting down, you will have noticed that I’ve referenced plenty of bass features. Like the previous-gen buds, these models offer absolutely loads of bass – they’re punchy and exciting, but crucially it’s not as lopsidedly-balanced as the last-gen buds.

Vocal lines, guitar rhythms, piano harmonies are all crystal clear and defined, with the buds’ new focus on dynamic balance ensuring other parts of music can cut through the bass surprisingly well.

Listeners who like finely-balanced audio may still find the Buds 4’s heavy bass off-putting (even though you can strip lots of the excess away using the app’s EQ), but if you don’t mind a bit of oomph, the buds are fantastic.

The buds also support streaming High-Res audio via the Hi-Res Audio Wireless standard, the LHDC 5.0 Bluetooth codec and offer a sampling rate of 192Hz.

• Sound quality: 4/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Good value at full price
• Great value on sale
• Incredible value as bundle gift

I mentioned before that you may be receiving these as a pre-order or buying bonus with a phone, and if that’s the case… yep, a 100% discount is pretty good value for money!

In a hypothetical situation in which you’re buying these at full price, they’re still really good value for money due to the stand-out features. You’d be hard-pressed to get buds for cheaper with ANC, a feature set or a design like this.

However, if you don’t mind compromising in a few areas, you can definitely get buds for under $100/£100/AU$200 which equal the Buds 4 in most departments – if not the ANC.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the OnePlus Buds 4?

(Image credit: Future)OnePlus Buds 4 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A fantastic feature set and top-notch ANC are a little hard to use thanks to the app experience.

3.5/5

Design

Incredibly lightweight buds that you'll forget are in your ear.

4/5

Sound quality

Heavy bass that doesn't obscure the rest of your music and is energetic and punchy.

4/5

Value

They're not too expensive and the entire package could cost twice as much without it being a rip-off.

3.5/5

Buy them if…

You need top-of-the-line ANC
I can't stress just how impressive the OnePlus Buds 4 noise cancellation is. If you hate background sound, buy it.

You have a OnePlus phone
A few features of the Buds 4 are exclusive to OnePlus users, so if you have such a phone, you're getting a little extra out of the purchase.

You want lightweight buds
Some earbuds are a pretty noticeable presence in your ear, for better or worse. The OnePlus buds certainly aren't that.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You're not a bass fan
While not as overwhelming as on last year's model, the Buds 4 certainly offer lots of bass which isn't for everyone.

You want earbuds for long journeys
When you switch on all of its features, the OnePlus Buds 4 don't really last all that long.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Also consider

OnePlus Buds 4

Nothing Ear

Earfun Free Pro 3

OnePlus Buds 3

Drivers

11mm + 6mm

11mm

7mm

10.4mm + 6mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life

11 hours (buds) 45 hours (case)

5.2 hours (buds); 24 hours (case)

7.5 hours (buds) 25.5 hours total (with case)

10 hours (buds) 44 hours (case)

Weight

4.73g (buds) 40g (case)

4.62g (buds); 51.9g (case)

41.5g total

4.8g (buds) 40.8g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IP55

IP54

IPX5

IP55

Nothing Ear
These similar-priced earbuds also offer loads of bass and a top-end feature set that's comparable. The battery life is even worse but a few unique features may clinch the deal.

See our full Nothing Ear review

Sony WF-C710N
You could save a little money and buy these Sony buds, which have a stem-less design. They too have great ANC and some useful features, including from Sony's impressive suite, and their battery life is also much better/

See our full Sony WF-C710N review

How I tested the OnePlus Buds 4

• Tested for 14 days
• Tested at home, in the office and on walks

The testing and writing period of the OnePlus Buds 4 took roughly two weeks, most of which were testing and a few of which were writing.

I used the buds alongside my Realme Android phone and the apps I used included Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, Netflix and various games. I tested at home, around my neighborhood, at the gym and on public transport.

For TechRadar I've tested plenty of other earbuds including the previous-gen OnePlus Buds 3, and have other reviewed other gadgets from the company including the buds' contemporary smartphones.

• First reviewed in July 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

• Netflix has released a new trailer for Wednesday season 2
• The teaser arrives one month ahead of the hugely popular show's return
• Wednesday's sophomore season will be released in two parts

Netflix has released the official trailer for the highly-anticipated second season of Wednesday that sees the titular character in a race against the clock to save the life of her school bestie.

As the eponymous character and fans alike prepare for their sophomore year at Nevermore Academy, the streaming titan has debuted plenty of new footage via a new teaser. Check it out below:

Until now, we only knew that Jenna Ortega's protagonist would not only return to Nevermore, but also need to solve another hair-raising supernatural mystery. As the above teaser confirms, it'll center around Emma Myers' Enid Sinclair, whose life is in grave danger unless Wednesday can use her psychic abilities and detective skills to stop Enid from being murdered by something or someone.

After her exploits in season 1, Wednesday has also acquired an unwanted hero status and small group of fanatical followers. If she thought some of her fellow students were annoying last term, Wednesday's seen nothing yet.

Wednesday season 2's latest trailer arrives exactly one month before it debuts on the world's best streaming service.

Like many of Netflix's most-watched TV Originals, it'll launch in two parts. Volume 1, which comprises four episodes, releases on August 6, while the final four chapters, aka season 2 part 2, will air on September 3. Funnily enough, both dates fall on a Wednesday. It's almost as if Netflix planned this...

Enid's going to survive... right? (Image credit: Netflix)

This isn't the only footage Netflix has treated us to recently. In April, it unveiled the first trailer for Wednesday season 2. Then, at Tudum 2025 in late May, Netflix released the first six minutes of the series' second season, which showed the eponymous hero using her prescient powers to turn the tables on a serial killer in typically deadpan fashion.

We've also learned plenty more about one of the best Netflix shows' next installment in non-video form.

In mid-May, Netflix lifted the lid on some of the new and returning faces we'll see in Wednesday 2, the former of whom includes Joanna Lumley's turn as Grandmama and Steve Buscemi's new Nevermore principal. Those reveals came over a year after Netflix announced a Westworld alumnus would appear in Wednesday season 2 and the addition of Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Addams Family movie actors to season 2's cast.

A couple of weeks later, a sneak peek video also confirmed we'll be getting tons more Addams family lore next season. Considering we'll be seeing more of Wednesday's immediate family, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones' Morticia and Isaac Ordonez's Pugsley this time around, that's to be expected.

For even more details on the show ahead of its return, read our ultimate guide to Wednesday season 2.

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Foundation season 3 is almost here. The critically-acclaimed Apple TV Original's latest installment will arrive in less than 48 hours, so you'll want to know exactly when you can stream it.

Below, I'll tell you when its first episode will be available to watch on Apple TV+. You'll also find a full release schedule for Foundation's third season at the end of this article, so you can make block out some time in your busy schedule to view them as soon as they air.

What time can I stream Foundation season 3's first episode on Apple TV+?

Gaal Dornick will return in Foundation's third season (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Foundation season 3 will premiere on one of the best streaming services on Friday, July 11. It should do so globally, too. I say "should" because, like other entries in our best Apple TV+ shows guide, it could arrive earlier in some nations, such as the US.

Occasionally, new episodes of Apple TV Originals actually launch late on Thursdays in certain time zones. Viewers in some North and South America regions, then, may get to see them early.

So, what time will season 3 episode 1 come out? Apple doesn't usually release information about episodic launch times. However, based on when other TV Originals, including Severance, have landed on Apple TV+, here's when we expect Foundation season 3's first episode to be released (NB: if your country isn't listed below, use 12am ET to work out when you can stream it):

• US – Thursday, July 10 at 9pm PT / Friday, July 11 at 12am ET
• Canada – Thursday, July 10 at 9pm PT / Friday, July 11 at 12am ET
• UK – Friday, July 11 at 5am BST
• India – Friday, July 11 at 9:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, July 11 at 12pm SGT
• Australia – Friday, July 11 at 2pm AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, July 11 at 4pm NZST

Foundation season 3 full episode release schedule

Jared Harris is also reprising his roles as Hari Seldon and Doctor Seldon in Foundation season 3 (Image credit: Apple TV+)

New episodes of Foundation season 3 will land on Apple TV+ every Friday. Read on for a full breakdown on when to expect new chapters:

• Foundation season 3 episode 1 – Friday, July 11
• Foundation season 3 episode 2 – Friday, July 18
• Foundation season 3 episode 3 – Friday, July 25
• Foundation season 3 episode 4 – Friday, August 1
• Foundation season 3 episode 5 – Friday, August 8
• Foundation season 3 episode 6 – Friday, August 15
• Foundation season 3 episode 7 – Friday, August 22
• Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
• Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
• Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12

For more Foundation coverage, read my Foundation season 3 review or check out the below section for more from my exclusive chats with its cast ahead of this season's debut.

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• Germany is calling on Apple and Google to block the DeepSeek app from the country's official app stores
• The Berlin Data Protection Commissioner has deemed the Chinese AI chatbot "unlawful" over alleged privacy violations
• Italy banned DeepSeek from official app stores in January over similar concerns

DeepSeek could soon disappear from Apple and Google's official app stores in Germany as data protection officials accuse the Chinese chatbot of alleged privacy violations.

"DeepSeek's transfer of user data to China is unlawful," said Berlin Data Protection Commissioner Meike Kamp, in an official announcement dated June 27, 2025. Kamp has called on the Big Tech giant to consider blocking the app in the country.

Another EU member, Italy, already banned Deepseek from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in January 2025 over similar grounds. The block was enforced about a week after the release of the ChatGPT rival.

Does DeepSeek violate GDPR rules?

(Image credit: Pixabay)

According to German authorities, the company behind DeepSeek AI (Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd) violates Art. 46 (1) of the GDPR, which rules the need for "appropriate safeguards" when transferring EU citizens' personal data to a third country.

According to Kamp, DeepSeek failed to convince German officials that users' data is protected when these details are transferred to China, as expected by EU laws.

"Chinese authorities have far-reaching rights of access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies. Furthermore, DeepSeek users in China do not have the enforceable rights and effective legal remedies guaranteed in the European Union," Kamp added.

These concerns echoed similar GDPR complaints issued after examining the platform's privacy policy and finding "multiple violations" of European rules.

Did you know?

(Image credit: Adobe Stock)

The US is currently pushing for a new bill, known as the 'No Adversarial AI Act,' to ban all AI models built in China, Iran, Russia, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from being used in government agencies – DeepSeek included.

It's worth noting that DeepSeek updated its privacy policy on July 4, 2025, and now states that the company does not engage in 'profiling,' which was among the issues raised by EU privacy watchdogs. That said, other concerns previously raised, such as non-transparent information on data retention periods, may remain.

On May 6, 2025, German data protection officials asked the Chinese firm to "independently remove its apps from the German app stores, cease the illegal data transfer to China, or fulfill the legal requirements for lawful third-country transfers," the announcement reads. A request that, said German officials, Deepseek failed to comply with.

Kamp has then decided to exercise Germany's right under Art. 16 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to report what he believes to be "illegal content" to app stores' operators.

She said: "I have therefore informed Google and Apple, as operators of the largest app platforms, of the violations and expect a timely consideration of a blocking."

While Italy was the first to launch an investigation into DeepSeek's data privacy and security practices on January 28, 2025, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Portugal are also investigating DeepSeek's policies over potential GDPR violations.

Can you use a VPN if DeepSeek gets blocked?

It's still early to say whether the popular Chinese AI chatbot will leave the German market for good.

What we do know, though, is that DeepSeek is increasingly under fire worldwide, meaning that some of its nearly 97 million active users may need to find an alternative way to download, update, and use the app.

Using the best VPN services is generally an easy way to bypass online geo-restrictions, thanks to their IP-spoofing capabilities that let you look like you're browsing from a completely different country in no time.

That said, like with the short-lived US TikTok ban, a VPN isn't a one-click solution if DeepSeek gets banned on official app stores.

That's mainly because using a VPN doesn't spoof your location linked to your app stores. This means that you'll need to "find another way of downloading the app other than the Apple App or Google Play stores," Eamonn Maguire, Head of Account Security at Proton – the provider behind Proton VPN – told me back in January.

However, experts suggest doing this with caution as potential privacy concerns may remain.

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• 33-year-old man was accused of spying for the Chinese government
• FBI alleges he is part of the Silk Typhoon hacking collective
• If convicted, he might be looking at decades in jail

Italian law enforcement has arrested a 33-year-old Chinese national for allegedly spying on the United States.

Landing at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a flight from China, Zewei Xu was apprehended by local police, and according to Italian news agency ANSA, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly participating in cyber-espionage operations for China, targeting data surrounding anti-COVID vaccines that were being produced at the University of Texas back in 2020.

Citing “interior ministry documents”, ANSA said Xu is accused of being part of Hafnium, an infamous state-sponsored threat actor also known as Silk Typhoon. With this group, Xu allegedly “targeted thousands of computers around the world” to get information on “various US government policies.”

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Typhoons against critical infrastructure

There will be a hearing early next week, at Milan’s Court of Appeals, to determine whether or not Xu will be extradited to the United States.

While his family claims he is an IT manager at Shanghai GTA Semi Conductor, where he develops IT systems and network infrastructure, American authorities accuse Xu of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

If convicted, Xu is looking at a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, as well as an additional five years for unauthorized access to protected computers.

Silk Typhoon is one of many “typhoon” groups (Flax Typhoon, Silk Typhoon, and others), all of which are apparently state-sponsored and engaged in various forms of cybercriminal activity.

Critical infrastructure firms, government organizations, telecommunications companies, and similar, are the typhoons’ most common targets.

In mid-April 2025, amid a serious escalation of hostilities between the US and China, senior Chinese officials apparently acknowledged behind closed doors that Beijing was involved in a series of cyberattacks on US critical infrastructure, conducted by Volt Typhoon.

This group was infiltrating US critical infrastructure systems for years, including compromising energy, communications, transportation, and water industries.

Via BleepingComputer

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• A new leak suggests the Sony WF-1000XM6 are arriving soon
• There might be a slight tweak in terms of the dimensions
• It's been two years since the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds launched

We've recently seen the flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones launched, but what of the wireless earbud equivalents? Well, a new leak suggests the Sony WF-1000XM6 aren't far away from being made official either.

As per The Walkman Blog (via Notebookcheck), import documentation has surfaced that mentions the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds by name – describing them, somewhat strangely, as "headphones without a frame".

We don't get too much in the way of detail here, but there is a reference to the charging case in the documentation, and we get the dimensions of the earbuds: it looks as though the new pair will be a little smaller overall than the Sony WF-1000XM5.

The dimensions listed in the leak are 84mm x 70mm x 55mm for the Sony WF-1000XM6, which compare to 99mm x 66.4mm x 53mm for the Sony WF-1000XM5, but we don't get any hints of a redesign here.

Will the price be right?

Sony just launched the WH-1000XM6 headphones (Image credit: Future)

Our list of what we want to see from the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds mentions better noise cancellation, improved connectivity, better battery life, an upgraded IP rating, more color options, and (of course) a cheaper price.

Head to our Sony WF-1000XM5 review and you'll see those earbuds launched at a starting price of $299.99 / £259 / AU$499. That was back in July 2023 though, and the tech industry and the world in general has changed quite substantially since then.

It doesn't look as though another July launch is likely for 2025, but based on the manufacturing stages mentioned in these import filings, the earbuds should break cover in the coming months – so most probably before the end of the year.

Whenever the Sony WF-1000XM6 make an appearance, they're going to face stiff competition in what is one of the most crowded categories in tech. We're still waiting for the AirPods Pro 3, for example, but they may not show up until next year.

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• Apple has just released the iOS 26 developer beta 3 update
• This adjusts the Liquid Glass design to make it less transparent
• It’s not the first time Apple has tweaked Liquid Glass in iOS 26

When Apple unveiled iOS 26 at its WWDC 2025 event in June, the thing on everyone’s lips was the Liquid Glass redesign. This has brought glassy effects to Apple’s operating systems and has divided opinion in a big way, but the latest iOS 26 beta looks to have dialed it back significantly – and I’m glad to see it.

Compared to previous betas, iOS 26 beta 3 has added a little more opacity to interface elements, reducing their transparency in the process. Toolbars and buttons are now a bit more solid, making it harder to see what lies beneath them.

That addresses one of the key criticisms of Liquid Glass so far: that it’s too difficult to read top-level elements when text or images are visible beneath them. By adding more opacity, Apple has gone some way to putting that right.

This is not the first time Apple has tweaked Liquid Glass. In iOS 26 beta 2, the company reduced the translucency of buttons and boxes in the Control Center, which were especially difficult to read in previous releases. There will no doubt be further adjustments before iOS 26 launches fully in the fall.

A little more legibleImage 1 of 2

Liquid Glass in the Apple Music app. The updated version in iOS 26 beta 3 is on the right. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Liquid Glass in the Apple Books app. The updated version in iOS 26 beta 3 is on the right. (Image credit: Future)

I’m a fan of Liquid Glass, but I prefer it in macOS Tahoe than in iOS 26, simply because the larger screens you get on a Mac versus an iPhone mean there are fewer overlapping elements, That enables macOS to avoid some of the worst legibility issues that plague iOS 26.

Despite iOS 26 beta 3 making things a little more readable, not everyone is a fan of the change. For example, writing on X, Apple pundit Sam Kohl wrote that “iOS 26 beta 3 completely nerfs Liquid Glass,” adding that “it looks so much cheaper now and feels like Apple is backtracking on their original vision.”

With plenty of time until the full release of iOS 26, we can expect Apple to make more changes as the year progresses. Hopefully, that will give it time to get Liquid Glass right – or at least make it a little more legible.

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• Apple is rumored to be working on an AI-powered update for the Apple Support app
• Code hints at a 'Support Assistant' that will help users troubleshoot Apple products
• I used to work at the Genius Bar and think this idea could be excellent if done correctly

Apple could be about to add an AI assistant to the Apple Support app, and that would be excellent news for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users around the world.

First spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, new code hints at an AI-powered 'Support Assistant' coming to the Apple Support app.

According to Perris, "The code states that the Support Assistant 'uses generative models,' and that it will provide answers 'related to certain Apple products and services' Apple warns that generative models can sometimes provide 'incorrect, misleading, incomplete, offensive, or harmful outputs,' and that customers should not rely on information from Support Assistant as a substitute for professional advice."

At the moment, the Apple Support app lets you talk to a real-life Genius Bar member about issues with your products, and allows you to receive troubleshooting support without the need of heading to your local Apple Store.

While there are no details on when this AI-powered assistant will launch, this could be a huge improvement in the way we access Apple Support, and as an ex-Apple Genius Bar employee, I'm going to explain why.

AI for the better

I worked at Apple's Genius Bar for nearly four years while studying journalism at university, so I've had many encounters with Apple Support behind the scenes and as a customer.

The Apple Support app is excellent, and is one of the main reasons I recommend Apple products to my family members who are looking to buy new tech. I truly believe the Genius Bar is one of Apple's best products, and AI is only going to make it better.

I can't count the number of times customers would travel long distances to come to the Apple Store, only for the issue they were experiencing to be an incredibly simple fix.

With an AI-powered assistant, Apple users could get pointed in the right direction every single time rather than relying on the customer to select the correct service path.

The Apple Support app already asks a few questions to make sure the customer gets the right support, whether that be online, at the store, or via support articles. However, adding AI chatbot capabilities would hopefully improve that experience even more, alleviating pressure on Genius Bar employees and improving the customer experience.

Adding AI chatbots to customer service might sound infuriating, but as long as Apple uses generative AI as a way to improve the customer experience, then I think this rumored feature would be genius.

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• IBM Power11 servers promise 99.9999% uptime, and no planned downtime
• Quantum-safe cryptography prepares against future attacks
• Performance and efficiency are up across the board

IBM has unveiled its new Power11 servers – next-generation hardware designed to support artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud and automation applications with boosted performance and enhanced security.

The company says the Power11 servers now have an ultra-high uptime rate of 99.9999%, noting that autonomous patching, live updates and rolling upgrades ensure zero planned downtime throughout their lifecycles.

Power11 servers are also futureproofed against evolving cyberattacks with built-in quantum-safe cryptography and less than one-minute guaranteed ransomware threat detection.

IBM Power11 servers

Speaking about the "mission-critical, data-intensive workloads" that IBM Power servers support across banking, healthcare, retail and government, the company revealed high-end, mid-range and entry-level servers to cater to a variety of workloads, all available from launch.

"Power11 will also be the first IBM Power server to support the IBM Spyre Accelerator, IBM's system-on-a-chip available Q4 2025 that is purpose-built for today's AI-intensive inference workloads," the company added.

Besides futureproofing against emerging technologies, Power11 servers also represent a huge leap forward from previous generations, including 55% better core performance than Power9, up to 45% more capacity in entry/mid-range models compared with Power10 and 2x performance per watt compared with comparable x86 servers.

IBM also noted Energy Efficient Mode could improve server efficiency further, by up to 28%, when peak performance isn't required.

"We are taking advantage of the full IBM stack to deliver hybrid cloud, AI, and automation capabilities while building on our decades-long reputation as a trustworthy hybrid infrastructure for essential workloads," Tom McPherson, General Manager for Power Systems at IBM, explained.

Although Power11 servers are set for general availability later this month (July 25, 2025), the IBM Spyre Accelerator won't be added until a later date likely in the final three months of 2025.

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Former Kerr County commissioner Tom Moser advocated for a siren warning system about a decade ago. He believes sirens could have saved lives had they been in place.

(Image credit: Ashley Landis)

• Gmail will now display how many times you've had emails from subscriptions
• The tool supports one-click unsubscriptions and sender blocking
• Google is also using AI to reduce scams

Gmail is rolling out a new 'Manage subscriptions' feature for mobile and web users to address all the old subscription emails they've gathered over the years in a bid to help declutter email inboxes at last.

The new tool will allow users to view and unsubscribe from all active email subscriptions in one place, from the navigation drawer of the app or website.

Initially tested earlier in 2025, the feature is now being widely rolled out across Android, iOS and web experiences, with full availability coming in the next two weeks or so.

Gmail wants to make it easier for you to unsubscribe from junk mail

Besides listing all active subscriptions from the likes of newspapers, subscriptions and shops, the popular email provider will also help you identify which subscriptions to cut by showing the number of emails you've received from each sender in recent weeks.

Senders who support one-click unsubscribe will be the easiest to get rid of, but Google has thought about ones that don't by building a sender blocking tool into the feature, too.

Separate research from EmailTooltester suggests that the average email user now receives more than 80 messages per day, nearly half of which (49%) are spam – the equivalent of 162 billion spam emails sent globally every day.

Although Google claims that AI-based filters have helped reduce scam emails by 35%, that only addresses malicious emails. With many users now counting two or more decades of online life behind them, the number of inadvertent mailing lists plaguing Gmail inboxes is at an all-time high, with many stemming from before enhanced consumer protections like newsletter opt-in came in.

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The death toll for the Texas floods tops 100 as the search and rescue efforts continue for over 160 missing people. And, the Supreme Court is allowing Trump to resume mass federal layoffs for now.

(Image credit: Ronaldo Schemidt)

• Photos of a Pixel 10 prototype have appeared on a Chinese auction site
• They show the addition of a third rear camera and what looks to be a temperature sensor
• Previous leaks mention this camera, but this is the first we've seen of a temperature sensor

The Google Pixel 10 series has leaked quite a lot at this point, but so far, actual images of these phones have been few and far between. Now, though, some newly leaked photos have given us our best look yet at what the base model might look like.

Spotted by 9to5Google, these images were posted on Goofish (a Chinese auction site) as part of a listing for a Pixel 10 prototype motherboard – so, despite the whole phone being pictured, only the motherboard is actually for sale.

It’s an all-round strange listing, which – going by the auto-translated text – includes an extended rant about scammers, but the actual images look quite credible.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Goofish)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Goofish)

You can see what’s apparently a Google Pixel 10 prototype from both the front and back, and it looks very similar to an earlier Pixel 10 Pro prototype leak.

You can see that there are three camera lenses on the back, which is one more than you get with the Google Pixel 9. But that’s in line with earlier leaks, which suggest the Pixel 10 will have a 5x telephoto camera along with its wide and ultra-wide snappers.

Interestingly, there’s also some sort of sensor under the flash, which is likely a temperature sensor, as that’s where this is housed on the Pixel 9 Pro, but it’s not something you get on the standard Pixel 9.

Could be a Pixel 10 Pro

Otherwise, this prototype looks very similar to the Pixel 9, with the same camera bar design, the same overall shape, and a punch-hole camera in the screen.

That said, it looks even more like a Pixel 9 Pro, so we can’t rule out the possibility that this is actually a mislabeled Google Pixel 10 Pro prototype.

We should find out for sure whether this is how the Google Pixel 10 looks soon, though, as the whole Pixel 10 series – including the base model, the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold – will reportedly launch on August 20.

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• Being blamed or getting into trouble are workers' biggest worries when reporting cyberattacks
• UK workers understand and can identify cyberattacks pretty well
• This comes as cyberattacks become worryingly common

New data has claimed two in five (39%) office workers wouldn't even tell their company's cybersecurity teams if they thought they had been the victim of a cyberattack at work.

The findings from Cohesity come despite generally better understanding compared with other European nations – 43% of UK workers understand ransomware, compared with 28% in France and 30% in Germany.

As many as four in five (79%) British employees would go as far as saying they feel confident in identifying a cyberattack, yet many choose to stay silent.

Workers feel embarrassed about cyberattacks

Cohesity says workers are most embarrassed about being blamed (17%) or getting into trouble (17%), leading them to stay quiet in the event of attacks. A further 15% stated they wouldn't want to cause a fuss, with 11% admitting they'd rather attempt to fix the issue themselves rather than notify IT.

However, separate research from IBM reveals breaches lasting longer than 200 days cost around 34% more than those contained earlier (via Morgan Lewis). Moreover, silence delays incident response and increases vulnerability to threats like ransomware, malware spread and further phishing attempts.

Government data from 2024 reveals that half of all UK businesses and one-third of UK charities had experienced cyberattacks or breaches within the preceding year – a number that's even more pertinent among medium (70%) and larger (74%) businesses, and one that's likely to be even higher this year.

Cohesity GVP Olivier Savornin stressed: "Staying silent if they suspect a malicious cyberattack is quite possibly the worst thing an employee could do."

Savornin calls for a workplace culture that makers workers feel more comfortable about raising the alarm, backed by proper cybersecurity training.

Cohesity Global Head of Cyber Resiliency James Blake noted that companies should take a holistic approach to "planning, processes, people and technology."

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(Image credit: PBNJ Productions/Tetra images RF)