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

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

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

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

Russia demands consular access

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Via TechCrunch

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The northern regional capital has become a frequent target of Russian drones, missiles and guided bombs. Now, Ukraine's top general says at least 50,000 Russian troops have massed across the border.

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

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

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

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

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

Which earbuds are getting Google Gemini?

(Image credit: Sony)

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

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

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

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

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

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

When can I watch Superman on HBO Max?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can an attack be pulled off?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Via BleepingComputer

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Commentary: It's making less sense to pay more for tech with minimal spec bumps.

Their Netflix bout stirred up lots of reactions.

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

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

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

Posted by scrubs on 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US government unlocks major Google Cloud discounts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The State Department is slashing hundreds of jobs in what's being called its biggest shake-up in decades — drawing sharp criticism from former diplomats who say the cuts risk gutting America's diplomatic muscle.

(Image credit: Beata Zawrzel)

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(Image credit: Beata Zawrzel)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pull that trigger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The backend challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trust and adoption

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

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

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

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

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

System-wide integration

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

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

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

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

We list the best mobile app development software.

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

• Future Apple Watch models might use AI to detect health issues
• Apple believes this approach is more accurate than traditional sensors
• But it raises questions over the privacy of your sensitive health data

There’s a lot of doom and gloom surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) these days, and it’s justified in many cases. But one area where AI can potentially make a hugely positive impact is in healthcare, and it looks like Apple is considering whether machine learning power can bolster health metrics in future Apple Watch models. There’s no guarantee it’ll make it into a finished product, but if it does, it could upend how you manage your wellbeing through the wearable.

That idea comes from a recent research paper published by Apple's Machine Learning Research arm. There, the company states that a new AI model trained on Apple Watch behavioral data is able to predict a wide array of health ailments. Impressively, Apple claims that the model is able to detect these conditions more accurately than the sensors you’ll typically find in many of the best smartwatches today.

While traditional wrist-based health analytics work by scanning real-time data directly provided to them by your wearable’s sensors, the AI model is instead able to spot patterns in the way you exercise, move and sleep. It then uses that information to identify any potential issues with your wellbeing.

Apple says that its AI model – dubbed the Wearable Behavior Model, or WBM – is particularly good at recognizing the signs of pregnancy, where it achieved up to 92% accuracy when combined with biometric data.

The model was also a strong performer when it came to determining static health states – such as whether you’re taking beta blockers – and transient health conditions like sleep quality.

Potential controversy ahead

(Image credit: Apple)

AI models have generated a lot of controversy over the ways they are trained, with journalists, artists and more arguing that their works have been used without permission by AI companies. How does Apple’s reputation for watertight privacy controls square with this concern when it comes to the Apple Watch’s AI model?

Well, the model’s training data apparently came from Apple’s Heart and Movement Study, where 160,000 participants voluntarily shared their health data through iPhones and Apple Watches. Over 2.5 billion hours of data were used to shape the model, and it was tested across 57 different health-related tasks.

Still, there remain significant privacy concerns over the combination of AI and health analytics, such as when it comes to pregnancy data. With reproductive rights being rolled back in many places, the idea of this kind of information being fed into an opaque AI algorithm – even one produced by privacy champion Apple – will be an uncomfortable prospect for many.

It also comes at a time when United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to “make America healthy again” by encouraging every American to own a wearable within four years. How will AI figure in such a plan? We don’t know for sure, but if Apple’s AI makes it into the Apple Watch, we could soon find out.

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