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Israel gave final approval for a settlement project in the occupied West Bank that would effectively cut the territory in two, which Palestinians say could dash hopes for a future Palestinian state.

(Image credit: Nasser Nasser)

In 2025, organizations operate amid escalating geopolitical tensions, data sovereignty restrictions, and stricter artificial intelligence (AI) regulations like the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act. These challenges disrupt supply chains and limit access to real-world data, while AI advances rapidly, offering powerful opportunities but also increasing operational risks for those unprepared.

Traditional decision-making, reliant on static reports and siloed data, can’t keep pace with today’s speed and complexity. Organizations must build resilience through systems that anticipate disruptions, make autonomous decisions, and adapt continuously.

This resilience is grounded in three interconnected trends: synthetic data, AI agents, and executive AI literacy. Synthetic data addresses data scarcity and privacy constraints by providing safe, diverse datasets essential for AI training and testing. AI agents leverage this data to automate and augment decisions in real time, from logistics to cybersecurity.

Executive AI literacy equips business and IT leaders with the strategic insight to use, govern and manage AI responsibly, ensure regulatory compliance, and align AI initiatives with business goals.

Together, these trends create organizations that don’t just improve decision-making; they become adaptive, proactive, and capable of thriving amid uncertainty. Here’s how they interweave to meet the demands of 2025.

AI agents: The engine of adaptive action

In a world where disruptions, such as supply chain bottlenecks or cyberattacks, strike without warning, AI agents are transforming how organizations respond. These software systems analyze vast datasets, recommend actions, and execute tasks autonomously within defined parameters. In logistics, AI agents can instantly reroute shipments based on geopolitical events, minimizing delays. In cybersecurity, they detect and neutralize threats by analyzing global network patterns, reducing response times from hours to seconds.

This capability is critical today because the speed and complexity of 2025’s challenges demand automation beyond human capacity. For example, a retailer facing sudden trade restrictions can deploy AI agents to optimize inventory across regions, balancing cost and availability in real time. However, AI agents are only as effective as the data they receive and the rules guiding them. Without robust inputs and proper oversight, they risk amplifying errors or acting on incomplete information. This highlights the essential roles of synthetic data and executive AI literacy.

Synthetic data: The fuel for smarter, safer AI

AI agents rely on high-quality, diverse data to function effectively, but real-world data is often messy, restricted by privacy laws, or limited by geopolitical data sovereignty demands. Synthetic data, artificially generated to mimic real-world patterns, provides scalable, privacy-compliant datasets that overcome these challenges. In healthcare, synthetic patient data trains diagnostic AI models without compromising privacy. In finance, it enables stress-testing of fraud detection systems without exposing sensitive transactions, fostering innovation within tightly regulated sectors.

The urgency of synthetic data in 2025 arises from escalating regulations like GDPR and the Cyber Resilience Act, which require strict compliance without hindering progress. However, risks remain. Poorly managed synthetic data can produce inaccurate models or lead to compliance failures. Effective metadata management—tracking data lineage, assumptions, and usage—is essential to maintaining reliability. This is where executive AI literacy plays a crucial role, ensuring leaders understand how to manage, govern and use synthetic data responsibly to unlock its potential while mitigating risks.

Executive AI literacy: The strategic compass

As AI agents and synthetic data reshape operations, leaders must evolve from passive adopters to active strategists. Executive AI literacy, a deep understanding of AI’s opportunities, risks, and trade-offs, enables decision-makers to align AI initiatives to support and build long-term organizational resilience. Leaders fluent in AI can critically assess whether supply chain recommendations from AI agents account for geopolitical volatility or whether synthetic data practices comply with regional regulations. This ensures innovation is both effective and secure.

In 2025, experiential upskilling programs are gaining momentum, allowing executives to engage directly with AI through use-case-specific prototypes. A manufacturing leader, for instance, might test an AI agent for predictive maintenance, gaining hands-on insight into its strengths and limitations. This grounded approach transforms AI from a conceptual tool into a tangible business asset, sharpening leaders’ ability to prioritize investments and manage emerging risks.

A unified vision: Building resilience for 2025 and beyond

The convergence of AI agents, synthetic data, and executive AI literacy is more than a technical shift. It’s a blueprint for resilience. AI agents act as the operational core, turning data into action with speed and precision. Synthetic data fuels this core, enabling innovation while navigating regulatory and privacy constraints. Executive literacy ensures these tools are wielded strategically, aligning them with organizational goals and fostering trust.

This matters now because 2025’s challenges—geopolitical instability, regulatory complexity, and technological disruption—demand systems that can anticipate and adapt. A retailer using AI agents to reroute supply chains, powered by synthetic data to simulate market shifts, and guided by AI-literate executives doesn’t just survive disruptions; it gains a competitive edge. These trends create organizations that are increasingly proactive, turning volatility into opportunity.

The path forward

Business and IT leaders must act now to build this resilience. Deploy AI agents to automate and augment critical processes, ensuring robust governance. Invest in synthetic data to unlock AI’s potential, prioritizing metadata to manage risks. Commit to executive AI literacy through hands-on programs that align AI with your organization's unique challenges.

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

• A free Android VPN app with 1M+ downloads was caught hosting its service on Windscribe-stolen VPN servers
• JetVPN allegedly began using Private Internet Access (PIA) servers after Windscribe blocked its access
• According to Windscribe, this incident is a symptom of wider issues with Google Play

A free VPN, ranking among the most downloaded free apps in the Google Play Store with 1M+ downloads, was caught seemingly stealing from Windscribe.

Rated as one of the best VPN providers on the market by TechRadar's reviewers, Windscribe first realized that JetVPN – a new name in the industry – was using Windscribe-owned servers to host its VPN service at the end of July.

After blocking it, JetVPN allegedly turned to Private Internet Access (PIA) servers to keep hosting its service.

A JetVPN spokesperson told TechRadar that the team was completely unaware of the situation until Windscribe reached out. A third-party firm offering a "white-label VPN" solution allegedly provided JetVPN with Windscribe and PIA servers without the company knowing.

"This whole thing is basically scammers scamming other scammers," commented Windscribe's CEO, Yegor Sak, adding that, "it is not the first time this happened," suggesting this signals a wider problem with how Google deals with quality control on new applications.

Stolen VPN servers – how did it happen?

Windscribe and PIA are among a handful of VPN providers offering unlimited device connections. This means that once you subscribe to one of these services, you can use your VPN app on all of your devices simultaneously.

While everyday users may take advantage of this policy to protect their families and friends by paying only for one subscription, malicious developers can also abuse it to host their own virtual private network (VPN) software at no cost.

"How they do it is very simple: they buy a bunch of Windscribe accounts, and then mass-share them using their own app by distributing OpenVPN credentials," Sak told TechRadar.

Nothing to worry about if you have a Windscribe or PIA account, though. As Sak explains: "This does not affect any other Windscribe users, since they're just abusing their own accounts, which they paid for."

PIA also confirmed to TechRadar that the team was aware that a third party took advantage of its unlimited device offering.

"In line with our Terms of Service, we closed the offending accounts promptly," a PIA spokesperson told us.

When approached by TechRadar, JetVPN said the team promptly stopped using Windscribe and PIA servers as soon as the provider got in touch, removed them from its application, and moved to an infrastructure fully under the company's control.

"We want to emphasize that JetVPN never engaged in any intentional or unauthorized use of their infrastructure – the overlap came solely from the same third-party provider," said a JetVPN spokesperson.

A Google Play issue?

(Image credit: Google Play)

At the time of writing, JetVPN is unavailable on the Google Play Store. Until Friday, August 15, 2025, it was and amassed a 5-star rating within a couple of months. The VPN was never available for download on the Apple App Store.

Asked about this, JetVPN told TechRadar that the removal isn't directly related to this matter.

"We are currently in the process of updating and improving our service, and we look forward to making it available again in due course," said a JetVPN spokesperson, adding that it was the company's decision to launch the app solely on Android at first.

That said, the JetVPN saga is only the latest of such incidents, where unverified VPN apps managed to get into the top ranks on Google Play.

Google even launched a "Verified" badge last February to help users download only secure and trustworthy services. Yet this popular free Google Chrome VPN extension has recently been found to spy on its 100k users, despite having obtained such a security badge.

All in all, Sak told TechRadar: "Google has a serious problem on their hands with quality control, as well as obvious use of bots to mass-install and mass-review shady apps to get them into the top 10 lists. This is quite obvious, since this app [JetVPN] has a 5.0 rating, with 5k+ votes and zero written reviews."

As a rule of thumb, you should always avoid downloading unsecured freebies if you care about your privacy and security. If you're looking for a trustworthy application, we recommend checking our best free VPN guide – Privado VPN, Proton VPN, and Windscribe Free are today's top picks.

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Sometimes it feels like we are in the middle of a scam epidemic. From bogus investment schemes to phishing attacks, online fraud is becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and more emotionally exploitative.

In the midst of it all, one type of fraud is grabbing more headlines than the rest: romance scams. Victims of these schemes are not only left financially devastated, but emotionally manipulated, tricked into believing they were in a real, meaningful relationship that turned out to be part of the elaborate scam.

The latest data from the City of London Police reveals that in 2024 alone, over £106 million was lost to romance scams, with victims losing an average of £11,222 each. And the problem is showing no signs of slowing down, with Barclays reporting a 20% increase year-on-year.

However, romance fraud is just the tip of the iceberg. Fraudsters are constantly changing their tactics, using new tools and strategies to deceive thousands of social media users into handing over substantial sums of money.

Evolving techniques

Romance scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, now turning to AI-generated deepfakes to make their stories more believable. They create hyper-realistic videos and audio, impersonating celebrities or trusted individuals to manipulate victims, by using easily accessible AI tools.

That’s what happened earlier this year in France, when a woman was scammed out of €830,000 by individuals who impersonated Brad Pitt using AI-generated images and videos.

In cases like these, scammers are particularly effective because they adopt a “slow-burn” approach, carefully nurturing online relationships over weeks or even months before making their move.

When the time is right, the ask for money is usually linked to a fake medical emergency, a golden investment opportunity, or a sudden family crisis.

While romance scams have grabbed the most headlines when it comes to social media scams, they’re just one example of a much bigger problem.

The tip of the iceberg

Stolen identities, deepfakes and other AI-generated techniques are driving fraud across social media. They are not used only for romance scams but also phishing campaigns, impersonation attacks, and social engineering.

Specifically, there has been a significant increase in scams using synthetic identities, where fraudsters create entirely fake personas using a mix of real, stolen, and fabricated personal details. These techniques are not just common to perpetrate romance scams, but are often used to secure loans with no intention to repay them as well as in money laundering schemes.

The use of deepfakes or synthetic identities is also on the rise in social engineering scams, where fraudsters impersonate trusted organizations or individuals to trick victims into revealing personal details, financial information or even transferring money. These tactics allow scammers to build up credibility with their victims, leading them to believe they are interacting with, and even giving money to, a credible entity.

Deepfake videos of celebrities are increasingly used to promote investment scams, tricking victims into handing over money for fake investments, promising high returns that never materialize. According to Hargreaves Lansdown, losses from investment scams rose by more than a third in 2024, reaching £144.4 million.

In one recent case, an organized network based in Georgia defrauded thousands of savers across the UK, Europe, and Canada out of $35 million (£27 million). The scammers used deepfake videos and fake news reports featuring money expert Martin Lewis to promote bogus cryptocurrency and investment schemes.

Tackling online fraud

Something that most scams have in common is their origin point. Three quarters of scams (75%) start online, whether that be on dating sites, social media or digital platforms.

Thanks to pre-built fraud kits that can be bought ‘off the shelf’ on the dark web, the entry barrier to fraud no longer exists, and being an expert has become irrelevant.

With AI tools to create deepfakes available online, and synthetic identities up for sale, anyone with an internet connection and bad intentions can now manufacture trust at scale to commit fraud, making digital environments an increasingly dangerous place.

To stem the tide of fraud, digital platforms and social media sites need to take proactive steps to prevent bad actors from operating on their sites.

Integrating technology that detects fraud before a conversation even begins would be a critical step in that direction. AI-powered digital footprint analysis and OSINT tools offer powerful ways to verify whether there’s a real person behind an account, not just whether the account looks real.

These technologies can instantly check whether a user's email or phone number matches the name they provided at sign-up and flag suspicious location mismatches. They can even detect AI-generated images or celebrity photos being used as profile pictures, as well as flag the use of disposable phone numbers or newly created email addresses.

These are simple yet highly effective measures that can make a huge difference in preventing not only romance scams but also investment scams, social engineering, phishing, and more.

Big Tech needs to step up its game

So why are we seeing a rise in scams across the board, when there is technology that could prevent them? In short, these tools are not being used to their full potential.

In recent years, some social media sites have introduced additional voluntary safeguards to verify users' identities and protect against scams, but there’s still more to be done.

If Big Tech can personalise ads with near-perfect accuracy, it should also be able to detect and disrupt romance scams and other forms of fraud. The reality is this simply hasn’t been made a priority.

Until it is, criminal exploitation scams will continue to massively proliferate on social media and other digital platforms.

The tools and resources to prevent scams are there. What we need now is the will to use them.

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

• A YouTuber has shared a new concept video of 'Windows 12.2'
• This is a follow-up to their previous vision of Windows 12, and refines the concept
• There are some smart ideas, but Microsoft is likely to be thinking very differently about it's next-gen OS

Windows concept videos are quite popular these days, as it's intriguing to take a glance at what might be if Microsoft took a different tack with its OS - and another one just popped up showcasing 'Windows 12.2' no less.

BetaNews spotted this latest concept video from 'AR 4789', a YouTuber who regularly posts these kinds of visions of how Microsoft could spin Windows. If you're wondering why it's called Windows 12.2, this is because the YouTuber already posted a take on Windows 12 a few months back - so this is a refinement.

At any rate, have a watch of the video below and see what you make of the concept, remembering that it is just that - this isn't a mod, there are no installation files, and it isn't based on leaks within Microsoft or anything remotely official.

It's simply an alternate vision of how Windows 12 could look, so click play - maybe skip the beginning which is just the mock setup of the operating system, head to 3:20 if you want to miss that - then afterwards, I'll give you my thoughts on this idea (if you'll indulge me).

Analysis: a smart concept - but the future of Windows will probably look very different

Overall, the YouTuber's take on the Windows 12 interface looks really clean and streamlined, and I like that vibe. There's a cheeky reference to Apple's Liquid Glass design, as well, with the Aero (transparency) effect from Windows Vista in evidence (recall the whole Apple copied Microsoft battle of barbs, though as I've said before, I don't feel that's a very fair stance - and arguably, Apple did sneak in first with the Aqua design in the interface of OS X 10 at the turn of the millennium).

Indeed, the Windows 7 theme applied in the video looks tasty, too, and I also really like some of the nuances, such as the choice of taskbar implementations (two smaller versions, plus floating or docked taskbars, or even options for a Windows 7 or 10-style bar). The Start menu gets a similar treatment and a smart level of customization overall.

I wish Microsoft would adopt some of these ideas, but let's face it - the likelihood of that is remote-to-non-existent (and that's a charitable assessment).

Indeed, I'd argue that the likelihood of Windows 12 appearing in the near(ish) future is also low in the probability stakes. Why? While rumors of Windows 12 have continued to circulate here and there, I'm thinking that whatever step Microsoft takes with the next incarnation of Windows - whatever it might be called - is going to need to be a big stride forward.

This is because Windows 11 was seen as a reskin of Windows 10 when it arrived, and there's definitely some truth there. Under the fresh paint job, many of the features and core workings of Windows 11 remained much the same as Windows 10 (even though a lot was changed under the hood - even more so with Windows 11 24H2 - but you don't see that, despite there being benefits such as better security, for example).

And even today, there's a feeling that I see commonly when reading various online forums that Windows 11 really isn't much different to Windows 10 - so why upgrade? There's no major pressing reason to do so (and many of the shiniest new Windows 11 features are for Copilot+ PCs only, anyway).

Okay, so you have to upgrade soon, of course, with Windows 10's End of Life in sight - unless you sign up for extended updates, and I think there's a good argument for doing just that (as you can get an extra year of security updates for free).

Where am I going with all this? Well, if Windows 12 arrives relatively soon in the OS deployment timeframe, it's not going to be all that much different to Windows 11. Much like the concept we see here, it'll remain largely the same - though we can hope for design and customization innovations along the lines of what the YouTuber suggests.

In this scenario, though, Windows 10 kind of clatters into Windows 11 which sort of bumbles into Windows 12 - they're all much of a muchness, as they say. And yes, sure, maybe Microsoft will plump for more modest iterative upgrades for its desktop OS in the nearer-term in this vein. However, this isn't a great look in terms of innovation - and I think the software giant is looking to make a big splash with AI. Indeed, the company's execs are pretty much telling us this already.

Which is why Microsoft might simply not bother with Windows 12 - and just keep Windows 11 rolling on down the road on annual updates - while it works to make a big entrance with Windows AI, or Windows Copilot, or whatever a much more tightly AI-focused operating system ends up being called (it won't be Windows 12, I don't think - again, it'll be a statement of some kind).

If Microsoft really wants to sell AI - and I think there's an abundance of evidence of that, including key chatter from top execs - the next take on Windows will have Copilot's tentacles snaking into a lot more corners, and will push all kinds of new AI-related tricks on us.

As a result, next-gen Windows will probably look very different to the concept we see here - but I hope that Microsoft might take at least some inspiration from the ideas aired on YouTube here, as I'm a fan.

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It’s no secret that the use of AI has surged exponentially in recent years. New research found 96% of global organizations have deployed AI models and the technology is transforming business initiatives unlike anything we have experienced before. Despite this, concerns and frustrations persist for many organizations trying to unlock its full potential.

The pressure to deliver faster, more secure and more efficient applications is intense. Yet complexity, legacy practices and misalignment are undermining AI’s full scope of abilities. To stay competitive, organizations must align strategies across security, automation and deployment or risk digital transformation efforts becoming stagnated.

Legacy operations blocking AI adoption

The industry is laser focused on how AI and automation will transform everything, yet many IT teams still rely on manual steps. Although AI promises automated tasks like traffic optimization, nearly 29% of teams are still mired in scriptwriting and 56% rely on human operators to kick off processes, which often require multiple manual approvals and ticketing.

Legacy methods and manual interventions choke the pipeline. Even the most advanced AI can’t deliver results if the infrastructure relies on time-consuming, error-prone manual steps. This not only delays deployments but also saps team morale. 

Traditional deployment practices, such as reliance on human operators and cumbersome ticketing systems, cause significant delays, with 23% of IT leaders citing ticketing integration as a primary automation roadblock. Modern continuous integration and deployment pipelines are built for speed, but outdated processes slow them to a crawl. If companies aim for continuous delivery yet still depend on manual approvals, agile deployment becomes redundant.

AI fuels hybrid cloud adoption

As AI continues to gain traction, so too does the shift towards hybrid cloud architectures. Today, 94% of organizations deploy applications across multiple cloud environments, driven by the need for scalability, cost-efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The hybrid approach allows organizations to tailor their infrastructure to the specific needs of different workloads and business demands.

As 91% of IT decision-makers have identified adaptability to evolving business demands as a top advantage of hybrid cloud strategies. This adaptability is especially important for AI workloads, where data locality, latency, and cost control are key considerations.

Notably, more than half of organizations plan to run AI models across both cloud and on-premises infrastructure in the foreseeable future. Interestingly, a growing number of organizations are also reevaluating their public cloud strategies.

Approximately 79% have recently moved at least one application from the public cloud back to an on-premises or co-location setup. The reasons for this shift are varied, but commonly include the need for better cost management, enhanced security and increased predictability.

However, this hybrid model is not without its challenges. Fragmented security policies, inconsistent delivery policies, and operational silos can complicate AI deployment across environments. Misalignment across teams and platforms, whether due to differing security standards, outdated workflows or uncoordinated strategies, remains one of the biggest hurdles.

While AI can help optimize existing processes, it cannot compensate for fundamental strategic misalignment. To truly move forward, organizations must go beyond simply adopting new tools. They need to rethink whether their current workflows are still fit for purpose in the age of AI.

The path towards AI’s full potential

To fully harness AI’s potential, businesses need to commit to building modern, programmable IT environments. These environments should not only support automation but also standardize application delivery and security practices. By creating a more consistent and scalable foundation, organizations can eliminate many of the inefficiencies that currently limit AI’s impact.

By 2026, AI is expected to move beyond isolated task automation to orchestrating comprehensive, end-to-end IT operations. With platforms that feature natural language processing and programmable interfaces, traditional management consoles will give way to more intuitive, AI-driven control systems. This evolution will bring unprecedented accuracy, speed, and agility to IT operations.

In this context, flexibility and automation are no longer optional, but essential. Organizations that successfully modernize their infrastructure and align their strategies will be better positioned to unlock AI’s full capabilities. They will not only enhance operational efficiency but also deliver superior customer experiences and drive meaningful digital transformation, at scale.

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

It's the latest streaming service to implement a price hike in 2025.

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, August 21 (game #536).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Whodunit?

NYT Strands today (game #537) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MEET
• DEVIL
• REVOLT
• RAID
• POEM
• STRICT

NYT Strands today (game #537) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #537) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 1st column

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

NYT Strands today (game #537) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #536, are…

• DETECTIVE
• STRANGER
• LOVER
• RIVAL
• SPOUSE
• HEIR
• SPANGRAM: ITS A MYSTERY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today we had all the usual suspects of a classic whodunnit? plus, of course, the investigator who will unravel the clues and reveal the killer.

The first word I spotted today was DETECTIVE and at this stage I was uncertain exactly what we were looking for. The word STRANGER helped and then I saw the long snaking spangram.

ITS A MYSTERY is also the name of a rather cheesy new wave song from the early 1980s by Toyah Wilcox, the chorus of which is ingrained into my brain, particularly the line “a shot in the dark, a big question mark”. I couldn’t stop thinking of it during today’s search – which was mercifully brief.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, August 21, game #536)

• HULK
• WOLVERINE
• STORM
• DAREDEVIL
• THING
• ROGUE
• SPANGRAM: SUPERHEROES

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.

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, August 21 (game #1305).

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 #1306) - 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 #1306) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1306) - 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 #1306) - 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 2.

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 #1306) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• S

• T

• B

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

Quordle today (game #1306) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1306, are…

• TROOP
• SCOPE
• TORSO
• BRINY

I decided to experiment today and play the Daily Classic as if I was playing Sequence and the Sequence as if I was playing Classic, with three starter words.

For the Classic it almost paid off: I was on track to get out in six turns. Then I floundered over a word with dozens of options, eventually getting BRINY but spoiling my score.

The Sequence really didn’t work using the Classic method. I still managed to get home after eight turns, but the thinking time was massively increased.

Daily Sequence today (game #1306) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1306, are…

• BIOME
• ELEGY
• BLUFF
• TERSE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1305, Thursday, 21 August: QUEST, SPARK, WHITE, ACUTE
• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, August 21 (game #802).

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 #803) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LAS VEGAS
• STRIP
• AMY
• ADAMS
• TOM CRUISE
• WASHINGTON
• PRIVATE RYAN
• CHRISTOPH
• WALTZ
• JOHN
• MALKOVICH
• STUD
• GEOFFREY
• RUSH
• FORD
• ОМАНА
• GRANT
• DRAW
• CHEVY CHASE

NYT Connections today (game #803) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Four of the 45
• GREEN: Action surnames
• BLUE: Place your bets 
• PURPLE: Film names featuring verbs as nouns 

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 #803) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: U.S. PRESIDENTS 
• GREEN: ACTORS WHOSE LAST NAMES ARE ALSO VERBS 
• BLUE: KINDS OF POKER 
• PURPLE: PROPER NOUNS AFTER GERUNDS IN '90S MOVIE TITLES 

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

NYT Connections today (game #803) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #803, are…

• YELLOW: U.S. PRESIDENTS ADAMS, FORD, GRANT, WASHINGTON
• GREEN: ACTORS WHOSE LAST NAMES ARE ALSO VERBS CHEVY CHASE, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, TOM CRUISE
• BLUE: KINDS OF POKER DRAW, OMAHA, STRIP, STUD
• PURPLE: PROPER NOUNS AFTER GERUNDS IN '90S MOVIE TITLES AMY, JOHN MALKOVICH, LAS VEGAS, PRIVATE RYAN

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Today’s purple group is one of those that will have people scratching their heads after the answer is revealed.

I had to do some Googling afterwards to learn that a gerund is a verb with an -ing ending that functions like a noun – like “saving’ for PRIVATE RYAN, “being” for JOHN MALKOVICH,  "leaving" for LAS VEGAS and “chasing” for AMY.

Thankfully, I’d already completed today’s puzzle, but not without several mistakes. The first was that AMY and WASHINGTON were linked by Whitehouse/White House along with STUD (surely there has to be White House stud farm) and LAS VEGAS (I was mistakenly thinking of the Little White Chapel).

I also put together the four actors who I guessed had won Oscars – I left CHEVY CHASE out of that group – before stopping and seeing the common link in their surnames.

Messy, but I got there in the end.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, August 21, game #802)

• YELLOW: BLUNDER BOO-BOO, FLUB, GAFFE, NO-NO
• GREEN: LANDS OF THE IMAGINATION DREAM, FANTASY, LA-LA, NEVER NEVER
• BLUE: THINGS WITH ANTENNA/E INSECT, RADIO TOWER, SATELLITE DISH, TELETUBBY
• PURPLE: ____ DOODLE CHEESE, DIPSY, GOOGLE, YANKEE

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.

• JBL has launched three new models in its Quantum headset series
• JBL Quantum 950, JBL Quantum 650, and JBL Quantum 250 are now available for purchase
• The upgraded headsets offer pro-grade audio technology, next-level comfort, an improved microphone, and more

During Gamescom 2025, JBL unveiled three new models in its Quantum headset series, sporting a new design and featuring upgraded audio technology.

Heading up the line-up is the JBL Quantum 950, alongside the JBL Quantum 650 and JBL Quantum 250, each bringing pro-grade audio technology to players and offering next-level comfort and elite audio precision.

The Quantum 950 was built from the ground up and features JBL’s brand-new 50mm carbon dynamic drivers that deliver rich, Hi-Res Certified Audio with ultra-low distortion.

With enhanced high-frequency response, players will be able to identify subtle in-game cues, like footsteps, reloads, and positional changes, that other headsets may miss.

It also boasts JBL Quantum Spatial Sound, powered by the new JBL QuantumENGINE, 3D head tracking, and active noise cancellation for an immersive gaming experience.

"No competitor offers this level of acoustic technology,” said Carsten Olesen, president of consumer audio at Harman. "Our expertise in audio innovation shines through in the new JBL Quantum headsets and the redesigned JBL QuantumENGINE software. We have developed professional-level gaming audio and made it accessible to everyone."

(Image credit: JBL)

The 950 also offers a lightweight design and JBL’s new patented hammock headband with a breathable mesh suspension for better weight distribution, and memory foam ear cushions for long gaming sessions.

JBL's latest model upgrades from a 4mm to a 6mm cardioid boom microphone, improving voice clarity and team comms, while also utilizing integrated AI Noise Reduction, optimised via the JBL QuantumENGINE software.

As for battery life, the Quantum 950 offers a hot-swappable dual battery system, which can be dropped on the included Base Station. It also includes the options to jump between low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, or wired connectivity to suit the player's needs.

Meanwhile, the JBL Quantum 650 brings much of what the 950 offers, including JBL Quantum Spatial Sound, the new 50mm carbon dynamic drivers, and hot-swappable battery support. It also supports the same flexible connectivity: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, and wired.

The JBL Quantum 250 is the cheapest model out of the bunch and is designed with "plug-and-play simplicity" in mind, and delivers wired performance across a range of platforms, including PC, Mac, console, and mobile. It’s lightweight like the other models and is built with the same modern, modular design and 50mm precision drivers that define the new JBL Quantum series.

Each model comes in either black or white and features purple and orange accents, as well as dynamic RGB lighting in the Base Station.

The JBL Quantum 950, JBL Quantum 650, and JBL Quantum 250 are now available for purchase at the JBL online store. They will cost £299.99, £129.99, and £49.99 respectively.

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Thanks to star Fiona Dourif sharing the first teaser trailer for The Pitt season 2 on her Instagram stories, fans of the breakout show quickly posted copies around the internet. Thankfully, this means that if you missed the 24-hour viewing window (it's only just been uploaded to the main HBO or HBO Max social media accounts), we've been able to watch and dissect it at our leisure. We know that season 2 began filming in April and is due to be released in January 2026, so HBO is running a pretty tight schedule.

While we've seen a few on-set interviews on YouTube and first-look photos of what's to come, the teaser trailer (which you can catch up with below) is our first proper understanding of what's to come. It picks up 10 months after season 1 ended, following another chaotic shift over the fourth of July weekend. Only Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins definitely isn't returning for future episodes after it was revealed she was written out of the series.

However, that doesn't mean there aren't question marks over the other characters. Dr. Robbie (Noah Wyle) has essentially had a breakdown, Whitaker (Gerran Howell) has been revealed as homeless, and McKay (Dourif) was nearly arrested for tampering with her ankle monitor. Amazingly, none of these cliffhangers are the one I think has been ruined by the new trailer without anyone even realizing.

The Pitt season 2 teaser trailer shows Dana back at work after huge season 1 cliffhanger

Mild spoilers follow for season 1's finale episode of The Pitt.

Within the first five seconds of the above trailer beginning, Dana (Katherine LaNasa) is seen manning her intake station like it's another normal day. Brilliant news, the ER definitely couldn't run as effectively without her. So why is this a spoiler? In the season 1 finale of The Pitt, she's seen taking her photos down from her desk, confiding in Dr. Robbie that she is considering leaving the ER altogether. She can't take it anymore, and we don't blame her.

Even if this is going to be addressed relatively quickly, it's pretty dissatisfying to know we've no longer got such a surprising twist waiting to be revealed next year. My best guess is that Dana's reasons for staying will be answered in a throwaway comment, with The Pitt season 2 then moving forward as if nothing ever happened. We've got other pressing business to deal with, namely the outcome of Langdon's (Patrick Ball) ongoing drug problem. With so much going on at all times, it's unsurprising that The Pitt might have decided to kill some darlings... but don't let us down months before episodes air.

Personally, I'm thrilled Dana is staying put (at least for now). She's one of the only charge nurses that can stay grounded and organized during an onslaught of emergencies, and she's a very good influence on Dr. Robbie. I've got high hopes that The Pitt season 2 is going to have us holding our breath from beginning to end, and we're only just beginning to find out the new surprises HBO has in store.

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• Google has just launched the Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch
• It lets you contact emergency responders via satellite connectivity
• It means Google has beaten Apple to this particular feature

Satellite connectivity can be a life-saving way to get you out of a tight spot, especially if you’re off-grid with no cell phone signal. Plenty of the best smartwatches can call emergency services for you, but none are able to do so by relying entirely on orbiting satellites.

Now, though, Google says its new Pixel Watch 4 is the “first-ever smartwatch with standalone emergency satellite communications.” That means it’ll work even when you’ve left your phone behind or it’s otherwise unavailable.

Here’s how it works. If you’re in a non-cellular area, you’ll need to dial 911 directly from the watch’s interface. You then need to specify what your emergency is – an illness, injury, robbery, and so on – before the watch shows you a quick tutorial on how to connect to a satellite. You’ll have to orient your wrist as guided on the watch, which will help it align with a satellite and send your message to emergency responders.

When you’re using the emergency satellite system, the Pixel Watch 4 goes into battery saver mode in order to keep the device going as long as possible while you need help.

You also need to have the LTE version of the Pixel Watch 4, according to content creator DC Rainmaker, although you don’t actually need to have an LTE service plan. Google says you’ll get satellite connectivity free for two years, but we’ll see if this gets extended like it has been with Apple’s emergency satellite service.

Beating Apple to the punch

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Google has done well to bring satellite connectivity to the Pixel Watch 4 ahead of its rivals, but the proof is in the pudding.

After all, being first is all well and good, but we’ll have to see how it works in practice to know if the feature is up to snuff. That said, I’d like to see more watches gain this functionality, as anything that can save your bacon when you’re away from cell service towers should be welcomed.

Apple is supposedly going to add satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is expected to launch this September. When (or if) that happens, it’ll be interesting to see if Apple does anything different compared to Google’s approach, or whether the feature is broadly similar across the devices.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349 / £349 / AU$579, although you’ll need to pay $449 / £449 / AU$749 for the most affordable LTE version with satellite connectivity. You can order one right now, but it won’t start shipping until October 9.

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• Oracle's upcoming data center could need power from temporary gas generators
• West Texas data center could come online before it gets connected to the grid
• Oracle recently added a number of major customers for its cloud services

A new Bloomberg investigation into Oracle’s operations has revealed how the company has turned from a database pioneer to a major cloud service provider over the past decade – an unlikely transition when the then-CEO Larry Ellison (now CTO) called cloud computing “complete gibberish” in 2008.

Today, though, Oracle is responsible for powering xAI in Utah and building GPU clusters for Nvidia in Singapore, Japan and Indonesia, not to mention its joint effort with OpenAI worth 5+GW of computing power.

Then, in 2022, TikTok became an important customers for Oracle. Now routing all US traffic through Oracle, TikTok generates around $1 billion in revenue for Oracle every year.

Oracle’s future data center plans

All of this has come at a cost, though, and Oracle now needs to add more data center capacity to keep up with demand. The company has already committed to spending tens of billions on mega-sites despite supply chain hurdles, but OpenAI demand from the Stargate project has added even more pressure.

As a result, its West Texas ‘Frontier’ campus could need temporary gas power until grid connections arrive. Expected to boast a 1.4GW capacity, it could cost Oracle over $1 billion annually to power using gas generators (according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the plans).

This comes at a time when Oracle faces financial struggles, even despite growth. For the first time since 1990, Oracle recently posted its first negative cash flow due to a spending surge.

“Oracle is going through a business model transformation,” Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler noted. “We believe the margin will rebound and cash flow will be substantial once they get through this investment phase.”

Speaking about fiscal 2025, CEO Safra Catz said Oracle is expecting higher Cloud Infrastructure growth rates and total cloud growth rates this year despite a strong uptick last year.

“Oracle is well on its way to being not only the world's largest cloud application company – but also one of the world's largest cloud infrastructure companies,” Catz added.

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Insta360 has just announced the Go Ultra, its most advanced miniature action camera yet. With a new sensor and processing chip on board, the Go Ultra promises to outstrip all other tiny action cams on the market when it comes to image quality – including Insta360’s own Go 3S, released just last year.

Up until now, the Insta360 Go 3S has been our favorite miniature action camera – and possibly the most fun camera available. Its minuscule size and weight allow it to get into spots other cameras – even other action cameras – simply can’t go, and it was the first model in the Go series able to capture 4K video.

It’s a hard camera to beat, so how does the new Go Ultra top it? We’ve completed an in-depth Insta360 Go Ultra review and gone through the spec sheets with a fine-tooth comb to see where the differences lie – and determine why you might want to swap your Go 3S for a Go Ultra. Or not…

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar 1. Video and photo quality

(Image credit: Insta360)

The major glow-up comes on the image quality front, with the Go Ultra toting a new 1/1.28-inch sensor – that’s an astonishing 221% larger than the Go 3S’s 1/2.3-inch sensor.

Paired up with a 5nm AI chip (also new), this allows the Go Ultra to offer 4K at up to 60fps (the Go 3S topped out at 30fps), as well as special modes like PureVideo for low-light shooting and Active HDR (both of which require the frame rate to be dropped to 30fps or below). The Ultra also supports more efficient H.265 video encoding, while the 3S only supports H.264.

There’s good news for photographers, too: the Go Ultra can shoot higher resolution still photos at a maximum resolution of 8,192 x 6,144 pixels, as opposed to the Go 3S’s 4,000 x 2,250 pixels.

2. Audio quality

(Image credit: Insta360)

The Go Ultra also ups the specs on the sound recording front, with its built-in mics supporting 48kHz / 32-bit AAC audio. The Go 3S’s maximum audio quality is 48kHz / 24-bit AAC.

It’s also worth noting that the Go Ultra will support a direct connection to the new Insta360 Mic Air wireless microphone. The Go 3S does not support it currently, although we suppose compatibility could be added via a future update.

3. Size and weight

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

There’s one key area where the new camera doesn’t beat the Go 3S. Due to its larger sensor requiring more space, the Go Ultra standalone camera unit weighs 1.87oz / 53g and measures 1.8 x 1.8 x 0.7in / 46 x 45.7 x 18.3mm. The Go 3S is lighter and smaller: 1.38oz / 39g and 1.0 x 2.1 x 1.0in / 25.6 x 54.4 x 24.8mm.

For a camera where the tiny size and weight are a major selling point, the slight increase in bulk might well put some people off. I’m not saying the Go Ultra is big or heavy (it’s very small for a 4K 60fps camera), just that it’s not as brilliantly tiny as its predecessor.

4. Battery life

(Image credit: Insta360)

On paper, the Go Ultra wins this round. Its standalone camera features a 500mAh battery offering up to 70 minutes of recording runtime, while its Action Pod battery has 1,450mAh capacity offering a total of 200 minutes runtime.

That’s a lot better than the respective 310mAh / 38-minute recording runtime and 1,270mAh / 140-minute runtime of the Go 3S and its Action Pod.

5. Storage

(Image credit: Insta360)

There’s a clear difference in the two cameras’ approaches to storage. The Go 3S is only available with built-in storage, and buyers get a choice between 64GB and 128GB versions. The Go Ultra’s slightly larger design, however, means it has room for a microSD card slot so, while there’s no built-in space, it can be equipped with as much as 2TB of storage.

That could come in highly useful if, for example, you were travelling, as it could mean you wouldn’t need to delete or offload footage as regularly.

6. Price

(Image credit: Insta360)

It’s new and it’s shiny, so of course the Insta360 Go Ultra costs more than the Insta360 Go 3S. The Go Ultra Standard Bundle (which features the camera, the Action Pod, a magnet pendant, a quick-release safety cord and a magnetic clip) costs $449.99 / £389 / AU$759, and its Creator Bundle (all of the above plus a mini tripod, quick-release mount and a pivot stand) costs $499.99 / £429 / AU$839.

The Insta360 Go 3S has been recently reduced, with its Standard Bundle (which features a 64GB Go 3S camera and Action Pod, lens guard, magnet pendant, pivot stand and easy clip) now costing $319.99 / £279.99 / AU$719. That’s a great price for a 4K action camera that’s only just over a year old.

So there you have it – the key differences between the new Insta360 Go Ultra and its predecessor the Go 3S. What do you think? Does the Go Ultra’s larger size detract from its appeal, or are those extra video capabilities enough to convince you to switch? Let us know in the comments section below – and don't forget to read our full, in-depth Insta360 Go Ultra review first.

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Insta360 GO Ultra: two-minute review

Get drawn in by the fun magnetic system and tiny size, and be genuinely impressed by the quality of the 4K footage. That’s what happened when I tested the Insta360 GO Ultra, a product that takes the advancements made with Insta360's Ace Pro 2 and GO 3S and turns them into another (really) compact, pocket-sized camera system for adventurous creators.

I've been into action cameras since the first GoPros came out (terrifyingly, almost 20 years ago). But until recently, I've always found their bulky housings less than ideal in adventure-type scenarios (running up a mountain peak, or learning to surf, for example). The whole point of the GO Ultra is to unlock more creative opportunities without sacrificing portability.

Insta360 might be best known for its innovative 360-degree cameras, but it's a brand that’s becoming synonymous with challenging the norms of action cams, too. The GO Ultra is a frankly tiny, pocketable camera (at 1.9 oz / 53g), about the same size as an Apple Watch. It's a natural successor to the GO 3S (released in 2024), but not a replacement. At the time of writing, Insta360 told me that both cameras will remain on sale.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

Like its predecessor, the magic of the Go Ultra is its modular design that combines a standalone camera and an Action Pod, giving you unique ways to shoot, charge and play. On the surface, the camera simply looks like a square version of the GO Ultra 3S, and powerful magnets on its base mount to the Action Pod (where the screen and buttons are) or numerous accessories and attachments. I even mounted the camera to our car, but that’s a story for another day.

However, inside its dark gray exterior are some notable improvements. The sensor is 221% bigger for better low-light capture, and a new 5nm AI chip delivers benefits to video quality using algorithms. The GO Ultra can shoot 4K60fps video, where the GO 3S was limited to 4K 30fps. And I found the PureVideo mode – that uses said AI algorithms to cut down on noise in low light – delivered good results at sundown, where my previous action cams struggled. The maximum wide 156-degree POV is great for group shots and selfies, vlogs and immersive action alike, and the view can be tailored to avoid a warped perspective.

This is a content companion for people with an active lifestyle rather than professional athletes. I found myself shooting more with the camera overall, simply because in one snap, I could have hands-free recording.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

Like the GO 3S, the standalone camera is more rugged than the Action Pod. You can use it in freezing conditions and depths of 33 feet (10 meters) underwater, while the pod is only splashproof, which is a shame. Other rugged points for the camera include a replacement lens cap (helpful if you scratch it during activities) and a push-up cover to keep the memory card slot inside dry.

I love the simplicity of the GO Ultra’s design. Like the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, the flip-up touchscreen on the action pod is an alternative to the front-and-back solution on GoPro, and I found it more intuitive for vlogging. Handling is a three-button operation, with intuitive swipes for key menus on the touchscreen, and the magnetic mounting system is always satisfying and feels secure.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The GO Ultra's battery life was a sore point for me, and not as impressive as all-in-one rivals. I got around an hour of 1080p video recording from the standalone camera, but more than double when combined with the Action Pod. USB-C charging takes you from 0 - 80% in around 12 minutes, though, making up for the fact that the battery doesn’t last as long as Insta360 suggests based on their lab tests.

There's no built-in storage for content like the GO 3S has, but microSD cards up to 2TB are compatible, and it's so quick and easy to get footage off the camera using the Insta360 app on a smartphone. I don't think this is a problem (just an extra cost to bear in mind).

• Check out our Insta360 Go Ultra vs Insta360 Go 3S write up to see how the tiny action cams compare

Image quality is better than the GO 3S, with photos capped at 50MP instead of 9MP. And you get HDR video mode, too, with the option to apply 'Dolby Vision' to shot footage to give it more contrast and color. The usual video modes like Timelapse and Slow Motion work as expected, while new Toddler Titan mode adds fresh, immersive POVs. There are several new features aimed at families, including AI Family Moments to pull content of loved ones into a virtual album.

The camera's audio quality was surprisingly crisp in most scenarios, and voice-specific modes picked up my rambling very clearly, while a wind-reduction mode helped while running in a breeze. Although I haven't tested them, GO Ultra is also compatible with several external microphones designed for high-quality sound, including Insta360's Mic Air, and third-party Bluetooth mics like the DJI Mic Mini and AirPods Pro 2.

The Insta360 GO Ultra is hugely versatile, and I filmed in so many places, with so many perspectives, that wouldn't have been safe or possible with my iPhone alone. If you're a family wanting more creative holiday snaps, a creator feeling stuck with what you can shoot with a smartphone, or just someone with an active lifestyle, the GO Ultra feels like the ultimate lightweight and fun solution.

Insta360 GO Ultra: specsInsta360 GO Ultra specs

Sensor

1/1.28-inch

Max Resolution

50MP (8192x6144) photos
4K, 60fps

Weight

1.87oz / 53g (camera) 3.8oz / 109g (action pod)

Dimensions

1.8x 1.8 x 0.7 inches / 46 x 46 x18mm (camera)
2.8 x 1.9 x 1.3 inches / 70 x 49 x 33mm (Action Pod)

Gyroscope

6-axis

ISO Range

100–6400

Aperture

f/2.85

Connectivity

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C 2.0

Storage

microSD card, up to 2TB

Waterproofing

33ft (10m)

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Insta360 GO Ultra: Price and availability

• Launched worldwide on August 21 2025
• Standard bundle costs $449.99 / £369 / AU$759
• Creator bundle costs $499.99 / £409 / AU$839

The Insta360 GO Ultra was announced on August 21 2025 (after being teased on August 18) and is available to order now from DJI’s online store and major retailers like Amazon.

It comes with two different bundle options. The Standard Combo includes the camera, quick-release cord, magnet pendant, magnetic clip and a USB-C charging cable. It costs $449.99 / £369 / AU$759.

The Creator Combo bags you all of the above, plus a Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0, Quick Release Mount and Pivot Stand. It costs $499.99 / £409 / AU$839. Although a lens cap is provided, you'll need to buy a separate pouch or case, as neither bundle includes one – and this feels a bit mean.

The pricing puts the GO Ultra at just a fraction more than the Іnѕtа360 X3 in the US and UK (when it's not on offer), which is now three years old, but that does offer 5.7K 360-degree capture over the GO Ultra's 4K. It's roughly the same price as the Insta360 Go 3S, but you get double the frame rate with 60fps video capabilities.

I think the GO Ultra is fairly priced. The GoPro Hero 13 Black is a strong competitor at around $359.99/£305, particularly if you want a traditional action camera and don't mind a bulkier design. There's no built-in storage, so factor in the cost of buying a microSD card before you can start filming.

• Price score: 4.5/5

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(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Insta360 GO Ultra: Design

• Standalone camera is waterproof, operates down to -20C / -4F
• Strong magnetic base connects to Action Pod and range of handy mounts
• The camera weighs 1.87oz / 53g and is similar in size to Apple Watch

The Insta360 GO Ultra resembles a square version of its former self, the GO 3S (its only real rival). Where its predecessor was pill-shaped and about the size of a thumb, the GO Ultra is square and more than half as deep as it is wide, sitting neatly between your forefinger and thumb for quick handheld shots. That’s only half of the product, though. Without the Action Pod, the GO Ultra is one of the lightest action cameras you can buy at 1.87oz / 53g (14g heavier than the GO 3S). Using the Action Pod turns the GO Ultra into more of a traditional GoPro-style action camera.

The main difference is that there’s one flip-up LCD touchscreen, rather than a screen at the front and back. As an owner of the GoPro Hero 12 Black, this flip-up screen was a revelation to me, and I found it so helpful when filming walking shots and talking to the camera, or to see how a shot was framed when shooting with the standalone camera remotely.

No doubt it contributes to the Action Pod’s lack of waterproofing, though. The IPX8-rated camera can be fully submerged underwater, but the Pod is only resistant to splashes, limiting where you can take it. On this, I was always careful to dry the camera before popping it back into the Pod.

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(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

As far as durability goes, the camera is also freeze-proof down to -4 degrees °F (-20°C), so it’s ripe for snowsports. And a screw-on lens protector added peace of mind for me against lens scratches, given that a replacement is around $20/£20. I’ve known so many action cameras in the past to fog up when filming underwater or changing temperatures quickly, but the lens guard has an anti-fog coating that avoided this particular pain point well.

I found the operation of the camera simple, which is a great thing because it lets you focus on the fun part of creating. The Action Pod has just three buttons: red up top for recording, a power button and a Q button to quickly switch modes on the right. There’s a raised button to release the standalone camera from its magnetic mount on the left (above a USB-C charging point), and I never found myself pressing this accidentally.

You really have to tug the standalone camera to release it from the Pod's magnets, which avoids unwanted drops. Underneath the Action Pod, there are two holes to fit the GO Ultra’s specific Quick Release Mount (sold separately, but very solid), for a secure fit to accessories like the brand’s Pet Harness. Attaching the camera to a pet harness was decidedly old school, with an action mount and screw system. But this kept it firmly in place, even after a lot of doggo rolling.

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Navigating the camera’s menus is easy, too. When you first turn on the GO Ultra, you get a walkthrough of what gestures bring up which settings. It took me a few hours to remember which did which (old dogs), but it soon became second nature. A right swipe brings up playback for footage, and a right swipe lets you dial in more settings and switch between Auto and Manual Mode.

The touchscreen is bright, colorful and responsive, which makes changing settings – even with wet or cold fingers – straightforward. You can buy the Insta360 GO Ultra in either Midnight Black (model tested here) or Arctic White, but either way, the construction is from a rigid, matte plastic that seems scratch-resistant, and like it could take a few knocks and drops. It’s sensible action camera fodder.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Insta360 GO Ultra: Performance and features

• Quick AI-edited videos via the Insta360 app
• Standalone camera charges 80% in 12 mins
• Compatible with microSD cards up to 2TB

The GO Ultra is designed to work alongside the free Insta360 app, which pairs to the camera via its own WiFi network for remote operation. From here, you can also download, preview and edit videos on your smartphone. Other than installing some new firmware (released just before the camera), I was paired and ready to shoot from the app in under 10 minutes.

The standalone camera and Action Pod pair via Bluetooth when they're apart. I found the connection seamless, with no lag when changing settings or in the real-time view on the screen. Range can be an issue, though, both from the camera to the phone and from the camera to the pod. More than about five meters away, or underwater, the connection would dip out, and the camera would stop recording. It's not a dealbreaker, but it might limit more complex setups, especially if you're shooting somewhere wet.

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The GO Ultra has a 6-axis gyroscope to measure the camera's movement and rotation, and through an algorithm, makes the video more stable and gives you a more even horizon. Image stabilization isn’t bad, but I found fast-moving objects needed a bit of extra help. When trail running, I got my best results by activating the Jitter Blur Reduction mode, plus Tilt Fix, which corrects uneven mounting by up to 10 degrees. It took me a while to discover both of these, and my first clips with the camera clipped to a hat (including this swimming clip below) were fairly wonky. Once activated, though, the results evened out nicely, and even clips of my dog lolloping at full speed looked stable.

The camera has a built-in microphone, and four modes for picking up sound – Stereo, Voice Enhancement, strong and weak wind reduction. I found the audio quality really impressive while walking in good conditions. My voice was picked up clearly when talking to the camera, and even in a busy city, the camera was able to isolate the sounds nearby rather than heavy traffic noises. If you use the camera in water, the audio will drop out, and the camera will need to dry enough before the clarity returns.

Like most action camera mics, there's an issue with wind noise disrupting the clarity (especially when running in breezy conditions), but the wind reduction setting did noticeably reduce this. It's a big advantage for serious creators to be able to boost the sound quality with an external mic like the Insta360 Mic Air, DJI Mic 2 and AirPods 4. Although without testing, it's hard to comment on the performance this would bring specifically.

I found all the camera's shooting modes and presets easy to get good footage with, partly because the camera does such a good job of explaining what each one does, without the advice feeling intrusive on the screen. It was also easy to control the camera with voice commands, "turn the camera off", "mark that" and hand gestures like making a peace sign to trigger a photo. I found that the standalone camera gets very hot after filming. Even after low-resolution clips, I felt it burning a hole in my shorts pocket, but this didn't cause any interruption in recording, so I don't think it's a major issue.

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Once my clips were captured, I was ready to start editing my videos. Much like GoPro and DJI's accompanying editing apps, Insta360's version also features AI-assisted editing tools to pick out clip highlights. There are tonnes of presets to choose from – with funky names like Vibe City and Tunes and Travel – which do a fair job of creating quick, shareable clips by adding transitions and music.

There are helpful default export settings for platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, although you can customize export parameters. I enjoy editing manually, but the Insta360 app is so intuitive that I can see even total beginners getting creative right away. Some of these end up being a bit cheesy, but you can tailor the music and effects to suit your tastes. I've included an example of an AI-edited video below, with clips of my dog wearing the pet harness on walkies.

The GO Ultra's biggest downfall – and something we struggled with while testing the GO 3S – is battery life. The standalone camera has a 500mAh capacity, and the action pod 1,450mAh capacity – noticeably smaller than the 2,400mAh capacity on the Insta360 X5, but an improvement on the GO 3S' 310mAh and its 38-minute life. Also, unlike action cams with replaceable batteries, when you run out of juice, that means content creating is on hold until you can find a way to recharge.

Insta360 says you can get 70 minutes of footage out of the standalone camera. Adding the Action Pod gives you 200 minutes. But that's with Endurance Mode on, the LCD and Wi-Fi off, and for 1080 24fps video – conditions I don't think most normal shooters are going to replicate. When I tried shooting a video in 1080 30fps from full power, without all the caveats on the specs sheet, I got around 150 minutes with the pod and 45 minutes without. I don't think that's dreadful for a camera this small, and it's worth noting that a 10-minute charge took me from about 0-75% so I was ready to shoot again. But it's something to consider if you're away from power for long periods, or looking to shoot continuous cycles, runs and hikes for longer.

• Performance score: 4/5

Insta360 GO Ultra: Image quality

• New 1/1.28-inch sensor with AI chip
• Captures 4K video up to 50fps and 50MP photos
• Low-light video mode with PureView

Insta360 has given the GO Ultra a bigger 1/1.28-inch sensor than the GO 3S, the idea being that this is capable of capturing more detail in low light. The GO Ultra also supports video capture up to 4K 60fps and 1080 240fps for slow-motion, plus new HDR that can be applied to clips and stills. Unsurprisingly (because this is a super user-friendly camera), there's no option to shoot in a flat profile for more color grading scope during post-production. But that's no problem, as I think most users will stick to editing in the Insta360 app anyway. Beyond the specs, what do the results look like in real life?

Going into testing the GO Ultra, I think my expectations were too low for a camera of this size. I found video quality to be brilliant in all 10 modes, but footage was sharpest and most vibrant in abundant sunshine. In the camera's Standard color preset (there are 8 in total, including Vibrant and Urban) videos were still colorful and had decent detail in the shadow and highlight areas, although the contrast ratio wasn't good enough to expose a very bright sky like a sunset, and a dark foreground, in one shot.

It's easy to switch the GO Ultra to Manual exposure mode, where you can take control of the shutter speed, ISO (100–6400) and white balance yourself. I found this most helpful for stationary shots, but wouldn't recommend it to beginners. In short – and unlike my mirrorelss camera – Auto mode saw me through all shooting scenarios, and I rarely felt the urge to take over. The joy of this camera is in its simple opration.

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The camera adapts quickly to rapid changes in light, such as coming out of a shady forest into an open field. And I found that useful when I was running in the countryside, moving quickly, where i didn't want the picture to be shrouded in darkness for a few seconds. Being summer, I did a lot of shooting in direct and dappled sun, and found that lens flare was handled well, too.

Big talking points of the GO Ultra’s video capabilities are the new additions of Active HDR and PureVideo. Like SuperNight on the DJI Osmo 360, it's designed to enhance the quality and sensitivity of low-light shooting. It's somewhat limited to automatic settings and 4K 30fps, but you can shift the exposure up and down in increments. Walking around a city at night, I was able to pick up plenty of detail in the buildings, street lights and the sky, although I think there's some aggressive denoising AI going on inside the camera, as the footage did look a bit muddy at times.

Photos from the camera have a seemingly high megapixel count (the maximum resolution is 50MP or 37MP with a 16:9 aspect ratio), which is a big bump up from the GO 3S' 12MP in 4:3 (9MP in 16:9). In practice, I'd say that's more than adequate for slotting into videos, or uploading to social platforms, but I wouldn't want to make big prints from them. At the camera's widest field of view, you get a 14.27mm equivalent in 35mm terms – expansive enough to get groups in the frame, or to shoot yourself while walking. If you're not a fan of the warped action camera look, a Linear POV does a great job at giving you a more natural wide-angle, good for vloggers.

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Overall, I'm impressed by the quality of GO Ultra's footage. It's in line with an action cam that's this portable, and the addition of HDR to video as well as photos (with Dolby Vision for an extra boost) delivers polished videos you can safely deliver to friends, family and your social channels.

If I were a professional creator, I wouldn't rely on this camera to cover all my video needs. But it excels at what it's designed for – being small, getting places other cams can't, and remaining user-friendly for beginners. The battery life is lacking for extended shooting durations, and night footage is still overcooked with PureVideo mode. But GO Ultra's video is good in most areas, and does appear to be an improvement over the 3S in low light (I haven't tested them side by side, so can't say for sure). With its kid and pet-friendly design, I think Insta360 has found the right balance for casual creators with an active lifestyle.

• Image quality score: 4/5

Insta360 GO Ultra: testing scorecard Insta360 GO Ultra

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Similar cost to the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and Insta360 Go 3S, but the quality of the package is worth it.

4.5/5

Design

A nearly seamless experience with the Action Pod, plus waterproofing and a protective lens on the standalone camera.

4.5/5

Performance & features

Gets hot, and the battery drains quickly. The Insta360 app makes light work of image transfers and AI edits and there are plenty of tricks and modes.

4/5

Image quality

HDR is a great addition, but it's still not a class-leader in low light. You sacrifice some quality for portability.

4/5

Should I buy the Insta360 GO Ultra?Buy it if...

You want to balance performance with portability
Video quality is high, but not the best of all action cameras out there. But the GO Ultra can also go places other action cameras can't, at least without tonnes of extra mounts.

You don't mind shorter battery life
I spent time shooting shorter clips on the GO Ultra, and recharging it little and often. If you plan to capture all-day events or sustained activities like rides or hikes, the battery life might be a limiting factor.

Don't buy it if...

You want the smallest action camera
The Insta360 Go Ultra is small, but not quite as tiny as the GO 3S. At almost 15g less, the Go 3S might unlock even more possibilities.

You want a fully waterproof solution
The Action Pod is only splashproof, a fact that made me uncomfortable while shooting. If you shoot a lot of wet content, I'd go for a fully waterproofed model.

Also consider

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is co-engineered with Leica and gives pros something more advanced. A dedicated Leica color profile, bigger sensor with better low-light performance and image quality, and up to 8K resolution make it better for advanced videography and content creation. You still get a vlogger-friendly screen.

Read our full Insta360 Ace Pro 2 review

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

Cheaper than the GO Ultra, the DJI Osmo Action 5 offers excellent features. It doesn't have the advantage of a tiny standalone camera, but the all-in-one design provides better battery life, waterproofing (to 20 meters), and 47GB of internal storage. The maximum frame rate maxes out higher, too, at 4K/120p.

Read our full DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review

How I tested the Insta360 GO Ultra

• I tested a full production model for three weeks
• I mounted the camera on my hat, handlebars, and even my dog
• I recorded videos during the day, sunset and after dark

Insta360 sent me a review sample of the GO Ultra Standard Bundle about three weeks before the official release date. This gave me enough time to test all the camera's modes and mounting options, including those with and without the Action Pod, as well as with the magnetic clip on my hat and the magnetic pendant on hikes in the countryside.

Insta360 also supplied a large version of their pet harness, and I attached the camera to my dog out on walkies to see what footage looked like from the POV of a bouncy Flatcoated Retriever.

I used the GO Ultra wild swimming in a local river to test the waterproofing, tried it running, and even attached it to our car as we drove along a country lane. I shot in bright sunshine, at sunset and night – essentially, in all the lighting conditions I could think of for creators. I edited content straight from the camera to the Insta360 mobile app on my iPhone 15 Pro, as well as manually taking footage from the built-in SD card and editing it on my iMac.

• First reviewed August 2025

• The FiiO M27 launches worldwide in Fall 2025, with pricing TBC
• Huge battery for portable playback and high power output at home
• aptX Lossless, Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio

FiiO has announced a new flagship portable player, the FiiO M27. It's a high-powered, high-performance hi-res audio player with a very impressive specification.

The M27 is powered by a Qualcomm QCS6490 chipset, which uses the Snapdragon 770G architecture and features eight Kryo 670 cores, an Adreno 642L GPU and supports both LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

It has 8GB of RAM and twin microSD slots, each of which supports up to 2TB of storage. On-board storage is 256GB, and the OS is Android 13.

The player is one of the first portables to use the Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset, which enables it to support aptX Lossless as well as Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. FiiO says that "Audiophiles can now enjoy reference-grade sound quality not only through wired connections but also wirelessly with a fidelity previously unimaginable in Bluetooth playback."

(Image credit: FiiO)FiiO M27: key features and specifications

Design-wise, the M27 looks similar to previous flagships such as the FiiO M23, but it's the first FiiO portable to use a titanium alloy chassis. The rear is made from "glass fiber".

The M27 is a dual-DAC design with twin ESS ES9039SPRO DACs and up to 5,000mW + 5,000mW of output power in Ultra Gain mode. There are 6.35mm, 4.4mm and 3.5mm headphone outputs, along with line-level and digital connections. And for going out and about, the M27 has a huge 9,200mAh battery.

The M27 also has FiiO's DAPS, which is short for Digital Audio Purification System and which integrates a high-capacity FPGA and dual RIVER femtosecond crystal oscillators that are claimed to reduce jitter and ensure timing accuracy.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet but the FiiO M27 will launch globally within the next few months, to challenge high-end players from the likes of Astell & Kern in our list of the best hi-res music players. We'll find out if the performance matches the elaborate spec list soon in our full review, as soon as we can get our hands on one.

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• Astell & Kern's new Hi-Res music player doubles as a hi-fi streaming upgrade, thanks to its included dock

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a Russian cruise missile hit a U.S. electronics plant in the far west of Ukraine. The strike was part of an overnight barrage of more than 600 drones and missiles.

(Image credit: Roman Pilipey)

• Agentforce for Public Sector has already achieved FedRAMP High authorization
• It is hosted on AWS infrastructure for maximum security compliance
• AI agents get to work to boost human workers’ efficiency

Salesforce has introduced Agentforce for Public Sector, a new platform powered by agentic AI specially designed to assist in government agencies.

The branch of Agentforce promises to inject AI agents into government workflows where it matters the most, such as handling repetitive tasks, by improving responsiveness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

It has also already received FedRAMP High authorization to guarantee security standard compliance, so may be a common sight in US Government services soon.

Salesforce's government-approved Agentforce platform

Salesforce noted the “staffing shortages and rising public expectations” faced by government agencies as a key attraction for Agenforce for Public Sector.

The company's recent Global AI Readiness Index claimed 90% of global constituents are open to engaging with AI‑powered government services, but concerns around privacy and security have slowed adoption within the sector. This FedRAMP approved platform hopes to change that.

The City of Kyle, Texas has already started using the platform. “It’s like having every aspect of town hall instantly accessible 24/7, whether you’re a city employee or a resident seeking help,” Assistant City Manager Jesse Elizondo said.

Among the first features to launch are three key systems – Compliance Management, Complaint Management and Recruitment Management. They use agents for summarizing and analyzing constituent complaints and detecting complaint trends, assisting compliance officers with violations and fee calculations, and screening job applications to match candidates with relevant agencies.

Job recommendation, benefit application and complaint filing bots will also become available from October 2025.

In a bid to provide clarity to government agencies, Salesforce stressed that Agentforce for Public Sector runs on AWS infrastructure, which is built to meet stringent security requirements for high-sensitivity organizations globally.

“With AI agents working alongside dedicated government workers and providing 24/7 support for constituents – helping with everything from routine inquiries to complex, time consuming tasks – Agentforce will power a more responsive, agile, and effective government,” Salesforce EVP and GM of Public Sector Nasi Jazayeri explained.

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• Google showcased new hardware at the Made by Google event
• This includes a mystery smart speaker we haven't seen before
• It could materialize at an event in a few months

The August 20, 2025, Made by Google event gave us plenty of new hardware to feast on – including (of course) the new Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro Fold Android smartphones. But in a quick (not-quite-blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it) segment, we caught a glimpse of an unannounced Google smart speaker.

The showcase was packed with cameos, and in one such star-studded showcase, we saw Formula One driver Lando Norris and NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo trade places – and use Gemini’s advice to better tackle the other’s sport.

Pixel 10 phones made an appearance, and Norris also used a new mini speaker with Gemini.

(Image credit: Google)

As you can see in the image above, the device isn’t like anything Google currently makes – our Audio Editor Becky Scarrott described its look as “like a HomePod mini in a Google dress but with an Echo Dot ring around the bottom,” which perfectly sums it up.

It also seems to possess Google Gemini’s reasoning powers based on how it was used, suggesting it might launch as part of the Gemini for Home upgrade Google has promised.

While the Gemini upgrade is also promised for existing smart speakers and displays, it certainly makes sense that Google would want to upgrade its lineup with some new hardware.

(Image credit: Google)

We haven’t had new hardware since the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) in 2021, and before that, the last Nest speaker we got was the Google Nest Audio, which just squeezes into our best smart speakers list (but mostly because it’s the best for Google).

So we’re long overdue for an upgrade, and it seems Google is all set to deliver one in the not-too-distant future.

Most likely we’ll see something “in the fall" (so September through to November) as that’s when Google has promised a major update, which should also solve the many complaints Nest users have about their devices.

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