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Mainframes have always been the silent powerhouses of enterprise technology – quietly doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. They’ve provided the backbone for some of the world’s most essential systems for decades. And today, they’re more relevant than ever. In fact, many of the most critical functions across industries still run on mainframes. Why? Because they deliver unmatched reliability, speed, and scale.

These systems can process millions of transactions in seconds, making them indispensable for organizations that demand consistency and speed. From database management to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, mainframes support the core processes that keep businesses running.

Their ability to handle massive data volumes with precision and minimal downtime makes them idea for industries like finance, travel and transportation, healthcare, and retail—where timing and accuracy are everything.

But the game is changing. Mainframes are no longer just transactional workhorses. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies, they’re evolving into intelligent platforms—capable of not just running the business, but transforming it. AI is unlocking new value from mainframe environments, turning them into engines of insight, resilience, and innovation.

Stopping fraud before it happens

Mainframes are built for scale and security—two things that matter more than ever in today’s threat landscape. As digital fraud grows more sophisticated and regulatory pressure intensifies, businesses need systems that can keep up. Mainframes are meeting that challenge head-on.

By running AI models directly on the mainframe—where the data lives and transactions happen—organizations can analyze patterns in real time. That means faster fraud detection, quicker triage, and smarter responses. No data movement. No latency. Just immediate action.

This same approach is streamlining other high-value processes, too. AI is accelerating loan modifications, automating credit decisions, and embedding intelligence into every customer interaction. It’s not just about stopping fraud—it’s about making smarter, faster decisions across the board.

Your AI-driven development partner

Mainframes are also evolving to meet the demands of modern development. As digital operations grow more complex and skilled talent becomes hard to find, AI is helping bridge the gap.

Mainframe applications, with their monolithic and deeply layered architectures, can be tough to navigate. They’ve been built over decades, often in legacy languages like COBOL, and that complexity makes them hard to understand, modify, or maintain—especially as experienced developers become harder to find.

That’s where AI steps in. By embedding AI directly into the mainframe development process, organizations can proactively identify service issues, streamline workflows, and allocate resources more effectively. AI doesn’t just assist—it accelerates.

It’s especially powerful when it comes to understanding and modernizing existing codebases. As the pool of developers fluent in older languages continues to shrink, AI can automate code restructuring, ensuring updates are made quickly, cleanly, and without introducing risk. It can also validate translated code—so when applications are migrated from one language to another, the new version performs exactly as it should, with no surprises and no logic gaps.

By automating these time-consuming, repetitive tasks, AI frees up developers to focus on what really matters: solving complex problems, driving innovation, and delivering value.

An operational strategy for the future

Even minor IT disruptions can lead to major consequences – downtime, lost revenue, and reputation damage. That’s why integrating AI into mainframe operations is a smart move.

AI enables IT teams to anticipate issues before they escalate. It helps identify patterns, predict failures, and take pre-emptive action. Ultimately, this leads to faster recover times, improved system reliability, and stronger business continuity.

Seeing the bigger picture

The future of mainframes lies in their ability to evolve—and AI is accelerating that evolution. By integrating AI technologies, organizations are transforming mainframes from transactional engines into strategic platforms.

This combination of trusted infrastructure and modern intelligence allows businesses to extract deeper, more actionable insights from the data they already generate. It’s a powerful shift that improves decision-making and enables smarter, faster strategies.

AI enhances performance, can strengthen security, and deliver real-time intelligence that helps organizations stay competitive and resilient. It’s not just about keeping systems running—it’s about using them to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth.

The opportunity is here. The time to act is now.

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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

• Following an 18-month ban, Blood Oxygen tracking is coming back to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2
• It's not an entirely on-device experience anymore, though
• The Apple Watch still measures Blood Oxygen, but the iPhone will calculate and display the final result

It’s been a long 18 months, but Apple’s announced that Blood Oxygen tracking and monitoring are returning to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 in the United States.

The feature was disabled and effectively banned on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 – then the Series 10, which launched later – after a ruling in January 2024 due to a patent dispute over the technology being used between Massimo and Apple. Now, thanks to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, which will roll out later today, the feature is returning in a ‘redesigned’ form.

In its new iteration, the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2’s sensors can take a reading, then transmit the data to the connected iPhone, where it will be calculated and displayed in the Health app under ‘Respiratory’ readings.

So no, you won’t be able to take the reading, watch as it progresses, and then view the results right on your wrist, as you could before. Still, this does effectively return the tracking and monitoring functionality to the impacted Apple Watch models in the United States.

In a statement shared, Apple explains the changes as:

“Users with these models in the U.S. who currently do not have the Blood Oxygen feature will have access to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1, and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.”

The U.S. Customs ruling is key here, as this will return the feature to the Apple Watches sold when the ban began and was subsequently enforced. If you still have an older Apple Watch, or one sold prior to January 2024, the Blood Oxygen functionality remains unimpacted and won’t be changed. That also goes for any models sold outside of the United States, which have been unimpacted by this ruling.

Still, this does return the Blood Oxygen feature to the Apple Watch, even if it splits the experience between watch and phone. But this separation is likely key to having this allowed and approved by U.S. Customs.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

For those who have purchased an Apple Watch Series 9, 10, or Ultra 2 in those many months, this is a return to form and rounding out of the health tracking features on Apple’s star wearable in the United States. Even in our Apple Watch Series 10 review, we noted that the Blood Oxygen tracking feature was missing in the US.

Apple has a pretty smart rollout here, and considering rumors of further pushes into health features that we might see with future generations of Apple Watch models, it might be helpful to have these readings going straight into the Health app. Either route, though, if you’ve been waiting for Blood Oxygen tracking to return, it’s back, but you’ll want to make sure your iPhone is nearby if you want to see the results.

While Apple has not shared an exact timing for the rollouts of iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, it has promised to arrive today – August 14, 2025 – in the United States, and we’ll update this piece when we see it rolling out.

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Have you ever tried reading an iMessage thread exported into an email? It’s like viewing your Instagram feed through an A4 binder.

Welcome to the reality many compliance teams face today: digital conversations that look nothing like the originals, stripped of context and flattened into disorienting formats. That’s a problem, as regulatory reviews require not just the message, but the full story.

That story lives in native data. If you’re not capturing it, you’re already a step behind.

What is native data, and why should you care?

Native data means capturing communications exactly as they happened, in their original environment, with every bit of context intact. That includes:

• Timestamps and delivery receipts
• Message order and full threading
• Reactions, emojis, and edits
• Attachments, formatting, and metadata

It doesn’t matter whether the conversation happened over Slack, WhatsApp, SMS, iMessage, Teams, or somewhere else entirely. Suppose you're reviewing those messages out of order or in a restructured format (looking at you, exported email chains). In that case, you're missing more than just convenience - you're losing critical details that are essential for an accurate compliance review.

Native capture isn’t about bells and whistles - quite the opposite. It’s about authentically recreating the conversation that has taken place, ensuring accuracy, auditability, and trust.

The risk of non-native capture

When messages are exported, summarized, or reformatted, a lot gets lost in translation:

• Threads break apart. You review individual communications without any indication of how they relate. This can completely shift the meaning associated with each message.
• Reactions disappear. A thumbs-up to a risky comment? Gone.
• Edits vanish. There’s no way to tell what was changed, or when.
• Timestamps warp. Or worse, they’re missing altogether.
• The message gets jammed into an email that appears to have been written by a robot.

This kind of context stripping isn’t just frustrating, it’s dangerous. Reviewers are forced into manual reconstruction mode, which slows down investigations, adds more scope for human error, and increases the risk of missing critical signs of misconduct. It also makes audits significantly harder to defend.

When firms struggle to explain key interactions to regulators - because the records were incomplete or misaligned with the original user experience - that’s more than just a gap. It’s a compliance liability.

Why native matters for investigations

When compliance teams investigate digital communications, they shouldn’t have to rebuild conversations manually from raw exports. That’s not oversight, it’s archaeology.

With native capture, the full conversation is laid out as it actually occurred. Messages are threaded. Metadata is intact. Reactions, edits, and attachments are all right where they belong.

This dramatically reduces the time spent hunting for context, and eliminates the need to second-guess what was meant. It also cuts down on false positives, enabling faster, clearer decision-making. When regulators come knocking, you can confidently hand over records that are complete, verifiable, and defensible.

What native capture enables

Native capture isn’t just a compliance checkbox - it’s a strategic enabler. When your team has access to fully native, context-rich communications, there is nothing to decipher. You gain real-time oversight rather than relying on after-the-fact deductions. Investigations become faster and smoother, with fewer bottlenecks slowing you down.

Native capture also fosters alignment across teams. Whether Legal, Risk, or Marketing, everyone is working from the same trusted source of truth. This shared clarity builds confidence when facing regulators, internal stakeholders, or legal scrutiny.

Ultimately, native capture provides the clarity compliance leaders need to shift from reactive firefighting to proactive management, without burning out their teams.

What to ask your vendor

If you’re wondering whether your current system is truly native, here’s a quick litmus test:

• What formats are you capturing in?
• Can you view the conversation exactly as it looked to the sender and recipient?
• Do you preserve full threading: message order, reactions, and edits?
• Is metadata (like timestamps and user IDs) retained and searchable?
• Can you use the captured data downstream for reports, escalations, audits?

Be wary if your system depends on exported spreadsheets or emails, or offers only “summary” logs instead of complete conversations. If threading and reactions aren’t visible, or if there’s no way to replay or faithfully reconstruct the original user experience, these are clear red flags.

If you’re encountering these issues, you’re not just wasting time. You’re risking your entire compliance defensibility.

Context is the new compliance currency

Today’s digital conversations move fast, flow across platforms, and rarely follow a script. Compliance can't afford to fall behind or work blindly. Native capture isn’t a luxury; it’s the new baseline. Without it, you’re not just making life harder for your team - you’re accepting risk you can’t afford.

Ask yourself: Are you capturing the full story thread, edits, reactions and all? Or just a flattened transcript that leaves too much unsaid? Because in compliance, as in conversation, it’s what’s between the lines that often matters most.

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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

I've been reviewing vacuum cleaners at TechRadar for the past 18 months, during which time I've tested some of the very best vacuum cleaners money can buy, from vacuums that that can empty themselves, and vacuums that can tell you exactly what they're sucking up, to vacuums with lasers.

And while all of those vacuums are impressive, I'll concede that what most people want is a vacuum that does a good job of cleaning their floors, is comfortable to use, and – crucially – doesn't require them to take out a loan in order to purchase it.

Broadly speaking, you do get what you pay for with vacuum cleaners, so if you can I'd steer clear of the ultra-cheap end of the market. However, there are some real hidden gems in the budget bracket. Read on for a closer look at my favorite cheap vacuum cleaner – the one I recommend to my thrifty friends and family members – plus three great-value alternatives to consider if my top pick doesn't take your fancy.

This article focuses on US picks – click here for UK recommendations.

My #1 cheap vacuum cleaner in the US

(Image credit: Future)

The Shark Stratos Corded Stick vacuum is well designed, with suction powerful enough to clear vast amounts of dog hair from our tester's carpets. The supplied attachments are useful, and the modular design means this vacuum can be used in a number of configurations for different cleaning tasks.

At full price it's a relatively affordable $299.99, but deals crop up fairly regularly, and right now you can snap one up for a bargain $179.99 - and with that price cut, it's incredible value for money.

Various special features help elevate it well above what I'd expect for that budget-friendly price. The floorhead has LED lights to help illuminate dark corners, and is designed so that hair won't tangle around the brushroll. There's also an odor-neutralizer cartridge, which won over our tester by leaving his carpets smelling lovely and fresh.

A big reason why this vacuum is so cheap is because it's corded. In a world of mostly cordless vacuums, that can seem old-fashioned and inconvenient, but there are benefits to going corded that go beyond just price. The suction is almost always far superior to what you'd get on a cordless model, plus corded vacuums tend to last longer in general, so you're getting a better return on your investment. And, of course you'll never run out of juice, either. If having a cord is a deal-breaker, I've included three great cheap, cordless alternatives below.

Alternatives to consider...

Not sold on the Shark Corded? Here are three alternatives that also impressed me by punching well above their diminutive price tags.

Dreame R20

The Dreame R20 is my favorite cordless vacuum overall – and not just in the budget bracket. It's powerful, lightweight and maneuverable, with advanced extras like automatic suction adjustment and a special head for hard flooring. The runtimes are long, too.

Read our full Dreame R20 review

Shark Detect Pro Cordless

It's less powerful than the corded Stratos, but the Detect Pro is nimble and lightweight, with clever detection and automation features. You can also opt for a version with an auto-empty dock, although that costs a little more.

Read our full Shark Detect Pro cordless review

Dyson V8

It's not cheap in the wider market, coming in around $360 with current deals, but this is the cheapest Dyson vacuum. You're getting that premium build quality and meticulous engineering, plus it's lightweight and versatile.

Read our full Dyson V8 review

FreshBooks is a one-stop, cloud-based accounting software package that for a relatively small outlay can provide you with an easy-to-use package that ticks most boxes.

Within its browser-based design you’ll find a whole host of options that cover any and all aspects of running a business. It doesn't matter if you're a lone freelancer or someone who’s growing a business and employing staff.

FreshBooks is a doddle to use, has the capacity to expand with your business needs and, thankfully, keeps those stress levels low as you build up your accounting profile. New features for this year include advanced search, the ability to download your own statements, Dropbox connectivity, new keyboard shortcuts and much more.

In the UK, Freshbooks has teamed up with Barclays to offer joint bookkeeping solutions for customers, offering new ways to help with invoicing and wider business management tasks. It's now possible to integrate Barclaycard Payments into FreshBooks, providing extra convenience for business customers.

Competitors in this software area include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo, Zoho Books and Kashflow.

View Freshbooks hereView Deal

• Want to try FreshBooks Check out the website here

FreshBooks is easily configured using a step-by-step series of user-friendly windows (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Pricing

FreshBooks comes with a selection of package and payment options that should provide a solution for most, but like most other companies in any industry, prices have climbed in recent years. Still, FreshBooks can justify that with feature improvements and other ways to find value for money, and there are often promotions on to get you through the door for less money.

Lite is the entry-level tier, which costs $21 per month. This and Plus ($38/month) are where FreshBooks envisions attracting most freelancers, but self-employed workers who have a bit more income and more complex needs could toss a coin between Plus or the more feature-packed Premium ($65/month).

Any requirements over and above this selection and you’re best advised to contact FreshBooks for a custom deal, which the company calls its Select plan.

All of the plans are pretty customizable, including options for additional team members ($11/month), online payment accepting ($20/month) and Payroll, which costs $40 per month plus $6 monthly per user. All of this means the costs can quite quickly add up compared with other plans, and while we've criticized others for offering too many plans to make sense of, we're worried FreshBooks' approach can make the costs climb quickly.

FreshBooks also gets a thumbs up for its try-free option, which lets you explore the package and cancel within 30 days if it’s not right for your needs.

Initial setup takes mere moments thanks to a very straightforward cloud-based design (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Features

FreshBooks comes with an impressive array of features no matter which of the package options you adopt. Even the Lite edition sparkles with the capacity for unlimited and customizable invoices, unlimited expense entries, the ability to accept credit card payments online and ACH bank transfers too.

However, the limits come in areas. For example, you can only work with five clients or you'll need to upgrade.

Naturally, the beefier the package the more features you get, so Plus adds to the Lite feature set with up to 50 clients, unlimited proposals, automated recurring invoices, double entry accounting reports and more besides.

For us, Plus might be the most cost-effective plan, with other features extending to e-signature support, bank reconciliation and slicker receipt and expense tracking.

Similarly, Premium gets all the Lite and Plus features along with an unlimited client capacity (up from 500 previously) and customizable email templates, which means you could pretty much manage most of your financing from the single platform.

Anyone with a custom-priced deal can also enjoy a personal account manager, personal FreshBooks training for you and your team along with other value-added features.

FreshBooks Dashboard is where you can control all of the features and functionality (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Performance

FreshBooks has had plenty of time to perfect its operation and this cloud-based system is one that works with little to worry about. The service delivers a neat experience depending on what kind of business you run, and if you’re a one-man-band then there’s very little to go wrong it seems.

Even if you’re operating a large or expanding business FreshBooks seems nicely engineered and rolls with the punches if you’re dealing with large chunks of customer data.

Freshbooks is also available for iOS or Android and the app edition is a clever supplement to the desktop arrangement. Not everyone wants to do everything on their app, especially if that involves large reams of numbers, but this is a great option if you’re keeping track of things on the go.

Updates in early and mid 2025 added manual bank imports and flexible reconciliation options, so if you live in a region where bank connections can be unreliable or your bank doesn't support this feature, then at least you can find another way to connect your expenses.

It's updates like these that speak volumes about a company, and it's promising to know that FreshBooks is making these changes and upping quotas (as mentioned above regarding client capacity) to continue adding value to its products even when prices climb.

FreshBooks can also be used in expanded fashion as your business grows (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Ease of use

Accounting software can be a long and arduous journey if you’re not au fait with its different sensibilities, let alone the work involved in mastering a new system. However, FreshBooks has been honed and fine-tuned over the years and is now an inviting option, especially if you’re starting out in business.

In fact, FreshBooks is refreshing in its set-by-step setup, with initial manoeuvres involving little more than picking a package and following the email address and password route so common with cloud-based operations.

On the whole, we found the experience clean, simple and jargon-free. The simple setup and onboard process also makes it a welcoming place, given how daunting finance software can be for new starters.

Ease-of-use is enhanced as the system can be adapted to suit what type of user you are. Larger concerns, for example, allows team members to be added. Freelancers and self-employed sole trader-types have it even easier.

FreshBooks might look simplistic but it comes with a raft of powerful tools (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Support

FreshBooks has a dependable and well-established support system that goes back as long as it has been operating. To start, there’s an excellent online area of the FreshBooks site that offers up a delicious selection of quick fix answers.

There are top categories too, such as dashboard and settings, invoicing and payments or handling online payments, which cover the majority of newbie enquiries.

Support extends beyond how to use the platform to discuss broader topics, like MTD explanations for smaller businesses who will soon be affected by the changes.

However, for the more unusual requests you may have, or indeed if you prefer a human to advise you, then there’s an easy-to-find phone number in the same section of the site. Live support is available from Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm EDT (Excluding Holidays) in the US. Alternatively, FreshBooks has a support email address to beef up the contact and support options.

Like other businesses, you can use the chatbot to help you find the right support article 24/7, but you'll still need to wait for a human to come online if you need further assistance.

FreshBooks can be used to seamlessly connect to any or all of your financial institutions (Image credit: FreshBooks)FreshBooks: Final Verdict

We’re really pleased with the way the latest incarnation of FreshBooks looks and performs. It’s been around for a while now and that is obviously a strength as the FreshBooks folks have refined the essence of the accounts package, but the best part is how polished it has become, making what can be a regular, tedious and complex task a joy to complete.

Its strongest suits include invoicing, expense management and tax-ready reporting, which it handles with ease, and it’s easy to setup and configure, the menu systems and sections are plain and simple, plus there’s plenty of power behind it to ensure things keep on ticking even if you’re asking a lot of it.

All told, FreshBooks seems like a mighty fine way to do your accounting and, depending on your requirements, is actually pretty cost-effective. We just worry that it could be seen as more of a premium product, with higher tiers and add-ons quickly making it a more expensive option than some others.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

The feature will be available through a software update rolling out today to select Apple Watch models.

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 14 (game #795).

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 #796) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TAKE CARE OF
• HAZE
• PAY
• РЕС
• FOOT
• FINE
• CASH
• THIGH
• BREAST
• МАС
• CAPITAL
• TENDER
• GRAND
• WING
• SETTLE
• BRILLIANT

NYT Connections today (game #796) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Chicken pieces
• GREEN: Sorting the check 
• BLUE: Superb
• PURPLE: Partially fancy snacks

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 #796) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: POULTRY CUTS 
• GREEN: HANDLE, AS A BILL 
• BLUE: SPLENDID
• PURPLE: STARTS OF CULINARY NUTS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #796) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #796, are…

• YELLOW: POULTRY CUTS BREAST, TENDER, THIGH, WING
• GREEN: HANDLE, AS A BILL FOOT, PAY, SETTLE, TAKE CARE OF
• BLUE: SPLENDID BRILLIANT, CAPITAL, FINE, GRAND
• PURPLE: STARTS OF CULINARY NUTS CASH, HAZE, MAC, PEC

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

The tile that read TAKE CARE OF stood out so much I honed in on finding common words to link to it.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who did this and I’m also sure I wasn’t the only person to wonder about the phrase “FOOT the bill”. It comes from adding up a column of figures at the bottom of a page rather than anything to do with our feet.

My mistake came in thinking that CASH, CAPITAL, GRAND and TENDER were all expressions for money. I got “one away” but switched my attention to the far more obvious collection of POULTRY CUTS.

I love nuts, but even after the answers were revealed I struggled to think what PEC could be referring to. Are Pecan nuts culinary? I thought they were a poor man’s walnut.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, August 14, game #795)

• YELLOW: DERRIERE BACKSIDE, CABOOSE, SEAT, TAIL
• GREEN: USED TO HIT A BALL IN SPORTS BAT, MALLET, RACKET, STICK
• BLUE: COMPONENTS OF A BRIDE'S ENSEMBLE BOUQUET, BUSTLE, TRAIN, VEIL
• PURPLE: RHYMING COMPOUND WORDS BACKPACK, NITWIT, COOKBOOK, HUBUB

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.

QuickBooks is an instantly recognizable name in the world of accountancy and bookkeeping. It’s owned by Intuit, which also has other options for small business owners and large ones too, with a diverse portfolio that includes TurboTax, Mint and Proconnect.

QuickBooks also comes in numerous different varieties, from desktop editions through to the hugely popular Online edition.

There are also regular updates to the QuickBooks portfolio of products, with the UK getting a raft of new features to help users keep abreast of tax and other regulatory changes such as MTD. There's an income tax estimator tool, improved tagging and a beefed up employee portal for larger businesses.

Professional accountants have new tools, including a month-end review tool. QuickBooks is, essentially, always evolving. There's a new QuickBooks Business Account digital payment option aimed at small business owners now too.

So, depending on your requirements, you can choose from QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, QuickBooks Desktop Pro, QuickBooks Premier and QuickBooks Enterprise. However, it is possible to create a custom package using the help of the QuickBooks team if you need a more bespoke option.

• Want to try QuickBooks? Check out the website here

QuickBooks: Pricing

With such a wide variety of QuickBooks options you’ll find that pricing is similarly expansive and there are often deals to be had too. For example, we've seen deals of 70% for three months, and even up to 90% for six months.

Customers and business owners of all sizes are catered for, starting with the £10+VAT/month Sole Trader plan and £16+VAT/month Simple Start plans.

Larger businesses will more than likely need to upgrade to Essentials (£33+VAT/month), Plus (£47+VAT per month) or Advanced (£115+VAT per month).

Although there's no free plan, there are options to save. For example, you could take out one of QuickBooks' seasonal offers that often give a number of months at a heavily discounted price, or you can sacrifice the longer-term offer by signing up to a month-long trial, after which you'll begin to pay the full price.

Still, to have the option of a whole month's trial is excellent news, and it should give business owners time to fully migrate any data into the MTD-compliant system and tweak settings – many other competitors in this space offer a 14-day trial, if at all.

(Image credit: QuickBooks)FeaturesQuickBooks: Features

QuickBooks covers all the basics across all plans, and because there are no free options, you won't be faced with a highly limited tier.

For example, all subscriptions come with invoice and estimate support, customized reporting and cash flow insights.

You can also capture receipts via the camera on the smartphone, which can then be easily linked to capturing expenses like mileage tracking It also integrates easily with other apps, including PayPal.

In light of changing regulations within the industry both in the UK and globally, QuickBooks will now estimate quarterly taxes, but beware that lower-tier plans lack any advanced invoicing like recurring invoices and project/time tracking.

The higher you go, the more you unlock, beginning with HMRC VAT submissions and multi-user support to employee time tracking and stock tracking.

There's also a payroll add-on for middle tiers and above if you're running a larger business, plus support for multiple users.

(Image credit: QuickBooks)QuickBooks: Performance

Gone are the days of tracking income and expenses locally on spreadsheets, and QuickBooks knows this because its platform is a fully fledged SaaS offering – everything runs through the cloud (securely), which means real-time data syncing and multi-device support.

So far we can report strong stability and responsive workflows, but it's worth noting that lower-tier versions are more lightweight so there's less to go wrong in the first place.

(Image credit: QuickBooks)QuickBooks: Ease of Use

The QuickBooks Online subscription plans have an advantage that they will work on any platform via the browser, and also have integration with the iOS and Android apps for use on a smartphone or tablet.

For those that prefer the downloadable software, it works for both the Windows and macOS, but unfortunately there is no mobile app support.

We love how intuitive the user interface is – new users can take advantage of a pretty simple onboarding process, and there shouldn't be too much of a learning curve when getting used to this particular platform. Unless you want to explore deeper (which you can do when you're ready), the out-of-the-box experience is simple enough for self-employed individuals who might not have as much accounting experience.

Having the backing of one of the industry's giants – Intuit – also means it's one of the first to get more advanced features, including AI which makes analyzing data and creating custom workflows easier.

(Image credit: QuickBooks)QuickBooks: Support

Support has been improved for QuickBooks and it now has a wealth of different options to choose from if you're in need of help.

This includes an online help hub, with lots of documentation, videos and other training resources. There's also a blog, a vibrant community and lots of social media too.

Depending on your package level, you might also have access to a professional advisor. All tiers get free customer support and free onboarding, too, which goes some way towards bridging the gap between non-human software and a fully human accountant.

(Image credit: QuickBooks)QuickBooks: Final Verdict

For a small business without a dedicated accounting department, or even a sole accountant, QuickBooks offers an attractive solution to managing the finances because it's both simple to use and packed with powerful financial features.

The fundamental bookkeeping ingredients are all here, covering invoices, payroll, estimates, employee time tracking, sales tax, inventory tracking, and is able to sync bank transactions. The online versions clearly have a better set of features than the downloadable version.

Our concern is that this full feature set comes at a higher price than some competitors, which include FreshBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo, Zoho Books and Kashflow to name just a few. A basic, free tier wouldn't go amiss for smaller-scale self-employed operations.

Compounding this issue is that as the additional services such as payroll and time tracking are added on to the base package, the costs go up even higher. While a seriously cash-strapped business may be better off looking elsewhere for more of a value bookkeeping solution, for the small business that can make use of the wide range of available bookkeeping features, QuickBooks via the online subscription remains an attractive and comprehensive choice.

Read our review of QuickBooks Online here

Read our review of QuickBooks Desktop Pro here

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software in this roundup

Sage is the British company that has been offering accountancy software solutions for many years. The business currently offers Sage Intacct and Sage50 Accounting under its umbrella Sage Business Cloud Accounting, which offers the flexibility and dependable edge provided by an online solution. 

Due to its size and breadth of appeal, the Sage product range can tend to be a little bewildering. For example, Sage One has now morphed into a beefier package that differs from Sage’s 50cloud option. However, the most obvious benefit of Sage Business Cloud Accounting in whichever bundle you choose, is that you gain the flexibility and scalability provided by having a cloud back-end.

Sage is constantly evolving too, with the UK market having its own products dedicated to small business including specific accounting, payroll and HR packages. Equally, Sage also covers the medium-sized business arena with the aforementioned Sage Intacct, Sage200cloud and the more specialised cloud-based ERP Sage X3. Professional accountants and bookkeepers are, of course, also catered for with partner accounting and payroll options with an increasing focus on automation.

Competitor software services worth considering include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, Kashflow and FreshBooks. 

• Want to try Sage Business Cloud Accounting? Check out the website here

Sage: Pricing

If you like the look of the most recent edition of Sage Business Cloud Accounting then the good news is that there’s a free trial available. This is a great way of experiencing the cloud-based accountancy service head on.

A broad range of packages fall under Sage's 'Accounting' umbrella, starting with Accounting Individual Free. It serves as a basic bookkeeping service for managing income and expenses and generating a self-employed tax summary.

Self-employed workers can upgrade to Accounting Individual, which adds support for sales invoices, bank account connections, 10GB of document storage and more. It costs £7+VAT per month.

For larger registered businesses, there are three separate tiers: Accounting Start (£18+VAT per month), Accounting Standard (£39+VAT per month) and Accounting Plus (£59+VAT per month).

There are also separate packages for Payroll and HR, as well as a more comprehensive suite under the Sage 50 brand which offers payment processing, automation and budgeting.

You can easily connect your bank accounts to Sage Business Cloud Accounting (Image credit: Image Credit: Sage)Sage: Features

Sage Business Cloud Accounting gets regular updates and its latest version is perfect for small businesses that need a relatively straightforward solution that ticks all the boxes.

Once you’re signed up Sage Business Cloud Accounting lets you tackle accounting, but it’ll also simplify sales tracking, reporting and pull contact together.

You’ll be able to accept and receive payments, create and send invoices as well as stay on top of bookkeeping chores all within the space of a cloud-based service.

The additional benefit of Sage Business Cloud Accounting is that it lets you enjoy the same powerful features on your computer, tablet or phone. That way you’re on top of your accounting no matter where you happen to be.

It's worth noting that Sage offers slightly different variants of its accounting software for different regions – and that's a good thing because the company is clearly willing to tailor its products to different tax scenarios and setups to help users get the most out of Sage.

Users in the UK get a variation on the theme. Sage offers small businesses an Accounting package, which lets you handle invoicing, cash flow, tax, payments and more. It also has a Payroll option, which allows you to pay up to 50 employees and is fully HRMC-compliant.

Sage even takes care of HR issues with its refreshed Sage HR package, which used to be called CakeHR. It is a constantly evolving picture to stay in line with new rules and regulations, along with the changing face of business.

Although setups differ regionally, Sage specializes in areas like invoicing and quote generation, expense management, reporting and forecasting, inventory management and bank feed monitoring.

Sage also works with third-party systems, besides its own ecosystem, like Xero or QuickBooks, which makes managing larger businesses or migrating from other platforms far easier.

Sage: Performance

Sage has been around long enough to realize the potential of offering a product that can be used by the many and varied users that need accountancy solutions. As a result, there are versions available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad plus the web-based edition for anyone with access to a browser.

As you’d expect from a cloud-based solution, it depends on an internet connection but all data is stored in the cloud. Sage delivers a reliable service in that respect and the performance has been carefully honed over the years to help you enjoy a pretty decent experience.

The reporting and core accounting modules are generally solid, though users sometimes note that they're not designed for heavy customization or complex workflows. Still, if you're a bigger business with more complex demands, you should be able to benefit from one of Sage's higher-tier platform subscriptions.

Sage: Ease of Use

Sage Business Cloud Accounting is quite a dry experience in that it’s less easy on the eyes, but certainly offers a comprehensive suite of features and functions. Consider it generally dated or utilitarian, but it's far from lacking in features.

If you’re a newcomer to its functionality then you might find it a little hard going as there’s quite a lot to get through during initial setup. This is done via a Getting Started screen, which incidentally can be switched off if preferred.

You can, of course, import a lot of your data or pull it in from integrations, as well as connect to your financial institutions, which means that most of your accounting figures will self-populate the various categories.

Some of the workflows, such as expense tracking, can be slightly less intuitive than we'd hoped, so it can take more clicks than you'd expect to get simple, administrative and repetitive data logged.

Nevertheless, there is still quite a lot to digest within the Sage Business Cloud Accounting interface, though once you’ve become familiar with it progress is much more streamlined.

Sage has done an impressive job at shoehorning the same experience into its mobile apps too, with iPhone and Android experiences surprisingly good. You can even get it for the Apple Watch, though we can't imagine users getting any real benefit out of that.

The Sage Business Cloud Accounting layout is functional but lacks the flair of other cloud-based options (Image credit: Sage)Sage: Support

You’ll find plenty of options available to you if you need to call upon some support, and that's partly because you're dealing with a highly established, big player in the space. Sage has got this aspect of its business down to a fine art, with email, phone and also live support options all available.

For ongoing issues that can’t be resolved with a quick answer then there is also the provision for raising support tickets, whereby your query will be put into a queuing system and hopefully resolved as quickly as possible.

You also get the benefit of a healthy community spirit within the world of Sage, while easily accessed and comprehensive FAQs also get to the bottom of many everyday questions and quandaries.

Support comes in a range of options including a powerful knowledge base for FAQs (Image credit: Sage)Sage: Final verdict

Sage Cloud Business Accounting has been a reliable option for quite some time and proves consistently popular with many sole traders and smaller businesses. It's packed with most of the features that you'd likely to need, but we'd like to see future generations of Sage's tools look slightly more polished.

Some elements of the workflow seem unduly labored and with missing features such as time tracking and payroll options Sage Cloud Business Accounting is at risk from the competition. While everyone might instantly know the name of Sage this cloud-based accountancy solution doesn’t satisfy in quite the same way as something like QuickBooks Online.

We find the lowest tier, while well priced, somewhat limiting, and only useful for a true micro business. On the other hand, the upper tier is quite a bit more capable, and the 50cloud variant has deep integration with Microsoft365, although the cost rises considerably from the lowest plan. For a medium to larger small business, without dedicated accounting resources, these higher plans become an affordable solution.

To this remark, we think the multiple levels of subscriptions can become complicated, and because lower-tier memberships are more limited, businesses could be compelled to upgrade without fully understanding which tier they need. A quick chat with customer services could help them figure this out, though.

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software in this roundup 

We got to test drive Antigravity's A1 drone, billed as the world's first drone built to capture 360-degree video.

• A collection of new leaked DJI Mini 5 Pro photos has been released
• “C0” sticker suggests it will be the first sub-249g drone with a 1-inch sensor
• Battery appears to be the same as that used by DJI Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro

A new set of leaked photos of the DJI Mini 5 Pro have arrived, bringing with them a whole heap of new information about the upcoming ultra-lightweight drone.

Following on from the leaked render and specs that emerged earlier this month, this set of photos, shared on X (formerly Twitter) and DroneXL by trusted drone tipster Jasper Ellens, appear to show the actual drone itself from a variety of angles.

Some exclusive new pictures from my friends today. Revealing multiple secrets on the #Mini5Pro. It seems DJI managed to pull off the unthinkable: a sub 249 gram #C0 consumer 1 inch camera drone. They actually made it happen! Cheers Jasperhttps://t.co/OOUwzGuLGCAugust 13, 2025

These new views of the DJI Mini 5 Pro appear to reveal a few key details about the drone, such as the fact that it’ll use the exact same batteries as the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro – great news for people who already own one or both of those models.

More exciting, though, is the presence of a “C0” class sticker on the bottom of the drone. Assuming this is real, it’s confirmation that the Mini 5 Pro will still weigh less than 250g.

While this couldn’t be called surprising news – after all, sub-250g weight has long been one of the key selling points of the Mini series – it’s great to see that the Mini 5 Pro’s purported new features like LiDAR and a camera with a 1-inch sensor haven’t tipped it into the C1 class.

Personally, I see getting a 1-inch sensor on a sub-250g drone as a huge achievement for DJI; having DJI Air-levels of imaging performance on a drone that can be flown with far less fuss, at least here in the UK where I live, makes it a truly exciting prospect.

If the leaked info turns out to be correct, I can definitely see the DJI Mini 5 Pro being my next go-to drone for day-to-day aerial photography and videography.

Secret button?

(Image credit: DJI)

One last intriguing detail from the new leaks is the presence of what looks like a small button on the side of the drone.

What this might do remains a mystery, but one potential theory is that it will launch the drone when there’s no controller present. This could give it similar selfie shooting capabilities to the DJI Flip or DJI Neo, allowing users to unfold it, launch it from their hand to take a quick clip or photo before having it return automatically – no controller or even smartphone required.

With these latest pieces of info added to what we’ve already heard, we can now build up a pretty clear image of how the Mini 5 Pro might look spec-wise.

• DJI Mini 5 Pro rumored specs
• 1-inch image sensor supporting up to 4K 120fps video
• 24mm lens with f/1.8 aperture
• 48mm medium telephoto shooting mode
• Gimbal supporting 225º movement, including vertical shooting
• Forward-facing LiDAR and omnidirectional infrared vision sensors
• 36-minute battery life

That’s an impressive set of specs for a small folding drone, and I’m very much looking forward to getting confirmation when DJI finally gets around to officially launching the Mini 5 Pro.

Rumor has it this will be happening in September 2025, which is getting nearer and nearer. Check back for more news in the coming weeks.

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• Football Manager 26 has been announced with a Match Day teaser trailer
• The footage provides our first look at the game running on the Unity engine
• Football Manager 26's announcement comes after the cancellation of Football Manager 25

Sega and Sports Interactive have unveiled the first look at Football Manager 26, showcasing the game running on the Unity engine.

Following the cancellation of Football Manager 25, the sports series has made a surprise return with the announcement of Football Manager 26 in a short trailer teasing a 'Match Day first look' coming soon.

The trailer features live-action scenes filmed of the Match Day experience through the lens of the official Premier League license, but also provides a first look at some rendered footage running on the Unity engine.

However, the video does note that "actual game footage - not final".

In a press release, Sega said, "FM26 promises to take players on a journey to define their footballing destiny with our most immersive and visually rich Football Manager experience yet. The potential for storytelling is redefined by taking players closer to the heart of the beautiful game."

A website is also live, displaying the announcement trailer and text that reads, "Back. Better. Building for the season ahead. FM26 Match Day First Look. Coming Soon."

There's no release date just yet, but Sega has previously revealed in its internal sales showing its launch roadmap that it has plans to release FM26 in Fall 2025.

Understandably, fans of the series are excited about the announcement, as evident by the replies to the X / Twitter post, now that there's confirmation that FM26 hasn't been canned, just like FM25.

Football Manager 25 was canceled in February after it was delayed twice, with Sports Interactive stating that it "hasn't achieved what we set out to do."

At the time, the developer said it couldn't release the game in its current state and would "shift our focus to the next release."

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Zoho Books is just one small part of a much greater business concern based in India that offers all manner of software for anyone and everyone. With its clean and simple cloud-based interface Zoho Books makes a great cost-effective accounting option if you’re a freelancer, sole trader or someone running a small business.

The benefit with Zoho Books is that it’s also quite scalable, so therefore offers beefier versions for those with larger business concerns, or anyone intent on expanding their operations. While the desktop route is a solid one, Zoho Books also has an impressive app presence, making it a good mobile bet too especially if you're constantly on the move.

It's a tax and accountancy software package that sits alongside the likes of competitors FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo and Kashflow.

Zoho Books: Pricing

Zoho Books has, it explains, a pricing plan for everyone and the service has actually become a little cheaper than it used to be for each of the current packages

It all starts with the Free plan, which includes access for one account holder and another accountant. It, along with the paid plans, has its own restrictions, for example you won't be able to use more than 1,000 invoices or 1,000 expenses within a year.

Standard costs £12 per organization per month, with space for up to three accounts holders, more invoices and expenses, recurring expenses and invoice generation without Zoho's branding.

Professional (£24), Premium (£30), Elite (£99) and Ultimate (£199) plans are also available, raising the limits even further and adding in features like multi-currency invoicing, vendor management, purchase orders and stock tracking.

Incidentally, sign up to pay annually rather than monthly and savings can be made on all packages. Zoho does offer additional add-ons, more about which you can glean from its website.

Zoho Books: Features

Zoho Books might be an affordable cloud-based accountancy solution, but that doesn't make it any less feature-laden. In fact, taking a tour of the package we found that it has a pretty formidable arsenal of tools and options.

That includes invoicing estimating, a client portal, the ability to track expenses, carry out billing, track your banking movements, manage projects and keep an eye on your levels of inventory.

Sales orders, purchase orders, VAT and online payments are all in there too, making Zoho Books fully featured by anyone's standards. Adding additional value is a solid reporting area, the ability to automate your workflow and, finally, enjoy the convenience of having all your documents stored in one place.

Most importantly for upcoming regulations, all plans can submit MTD-complaint VAT returns directly to HMRC, with MTD compliance also available for Income Tax via quarterly updates and SA103 summary reports.

The reality is that the Free package contains most of the features self-employed individuals are likely to need, so anything included in paid plans is either a bonus or designed for larger companies operating six-figure incomes (or at least high-two-figure turnovers).

Zoho also offers a broad spectrum of integrations, such as with PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, Mailchimp, Office 365, Slack and more, as well as its own comprehensive range of products.

(Image credit: Zoho Books)Zoho Books: Performance

During our time using Zoho Books we found the software-as-a-service solution excellent. There are a lot of tabs, menus and other options available and, with a decent internet connection, we could zip around the site without any issues whatsoever.

Connecting to financial institutions, which you’ll want to do to bulk up the appeal of your accountancy package, is fast and efficient.

There’s also the capacity for using any one of many Zoho add-ons to increase the potential of your package. These can be found via the Integrations menu. Performance is further boosted if you choose to dip into the Automation area of the interface, which Zoho Books provides to streamline workflow more efficiently.

Automations can cover recurring expenses, invoices, or bills; convert quotes to invoices; send out payment reminders and trigger workflows to help you keep tabs on your progress, so with the right setup, you can have an extremely powerful ecosystem that does the heavy lifting for you.

In addition, items called Web Tabs add extra usability within the interface if you want to create and use them to access frequently called-upon features and functions.

Zoho Books: Ease of use

Setting up Zoho Books could not be simpler. As with all cloud-based services you’ll need to create an account, pick a password and then work your way through the steps. Input your organization’s details, opt in or out of VAT and then pick down through the features checklist. These can be enabled either on or off depending on what suits your needs.

We think Zoho does a sterling job of making what can be a tedious and complex task relatively simple, and that's largely thanks to its uncluttered user interface and strong explanations.

Usefully, Invoices, Credit Notes, Expenses, Bills, Recurring Invoices and more are available by default in Zoho Books. Press the ‘Get Started’ button and you’ll be read to go. Once you’re inside the dashboard area everything is very self-explanatory, with core menus down the left-hand side and more along the top. Another bonus with Zoho Books is the extensive list of available templates for creating everything from invoices through to customer statements and all points in-between.

The mobile apps score well for usability and functionality, but more importantly they look great which takes some of the stress and dread away for new users who might be struggling to get their head around MTD requirements.

Still, it can sometimes feel a bit disjointed jumping between different apps, portals and websites to access different areas of Zoho's ecosystem if you're using more than just Books.

Zoho Books: Support

Zoho Books comes complete with its own free support infrastructure, which arrives via numerous avenues. There’s 24-hour unlimited support 5 days a week and this can be accessed via email, or by using the built-in live chat options. Failing that, Zoho Books issues can be tackled over the phone via a toll free hotline.

Note that free plans only get reduced email support.

We’re also impressed with the beefy selection of supporting options that can be found via the website. There’s help documentation, FAQs, business guides and forums too, which all add extra weight to the overall support structure.

Zoho Books: Final verdict

Zoho Books is a fine pay-as-you-go cloud-based accounting option that provides you with many if not all of the tools you’ll need to keep your business accounts in good shape. While the cloud-based desktop route is a great one to take we’re also really impressed with the level of detail applied to Zoho Books range of apps. These have been nicely put together and deliver everything you need to keep tabs on your accounts on the move.

The ecosystem represents outstanding value for money already, but when you combine it with other apps in Zoho's ecosystem, you begin to unlock mighty interoperability that could really improve administrative productivity.

We also like the way that Zoho seems more than amenable to helping you scale your accounting package too, with larger users being encouraged to contact the company in order to get a solution more accurately tailored to their needs. However, as it stands in any of the more off-the-shelf guises Zoho Books still has plenty to commend.

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software

• YouTube has officially rolled out age verification checks to US users
• The service will use AI to determine your age
• If it detects you're under 18, you'll have to verify your age by submitting a credit card or government ID

YouTube has officially launched its AI-based age checks in the US, following the introduction of online age verification checks in the UK, which aim to shield young people from viewing adult content. Since its widespread rollout came into effect, it’s been met with a slew of backlash, and users are furious.

The main reason why users are concerned with YouTube’s new age check process is down to the age-estimation model itself, which the company announced will "use AI to interpret a variety of signals that help us to determine whether a user is over or under 18". But how will it work?

YouTube’s AI model will use ‘signals’ to detect whether a user is under or over the age of 18, which include the longevity of the account, the types of videos a user searches for, and the categories of videos they’ve already watched.

If YouTube detects you’re underage, it will restrict your account by disabling personalized advertising, turning on digital wellbeing tools, and limiting repetitive views of some kinds of content, despite the age you’ve set on your account. If you’re falsely estimated to be under 18, you’ll have to verify your age by submitting a credit card or government ID.

YouTube hasn't stated how this AI model will receive data from those trying to verify their age, nor how the data will be stored, which has sparked fears of possible data leaks.

Widespread frustration

Although it’s early days into YouTube’s new AI age checks, users are already taking measures to stop them. On Tuesday, a Change.org petition was published and has grown exponentially, reaching over 90,000 signatures so far.

The petition reads "this isn’t just about age restriction – it’s about mass surveillance and data control", but that’s not the only reason why users are angry. One Reddit post has sparked widespread conversation about YouTube’s new age checks, garnering 1.8k responses.

Oh my GOD, it's happening from r/youtube

Aside from data control concerns, the question as to whether YouTube is a host for ‘real’ adult content is another conversation furious users are having (see below). This was also raised when Spotify introduced its face-scanning age checks in the UK, another service that - despite not hosting X-rated content - hosts podcasts that may be deemed of mature nature.

Comment from r/youtube

While YouTube is very much on it with flagging adult-leaning content, this can affect videos such as movie and game trailers, which are watched by users of all ages. With the new age checks in place, some content in this category won’t be available to watch if you haven’t logged in, as one user has shared.

Comment from r/youtube

How do you feel about YouTube’s new age verification checks? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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• Proton said the company has begun moving some of its physical infrastructure out of Switzerland for fear of the new proposed surveillance law
• Lumo, the company's newly launched privacy-first AI chatbot, is the first product to move
• An amendment to the current surveillance law would require VPNs and messaging apps to identify and retain user data

Proton has confirmed the company has begun moving out of Switzerland due to "legal uncertainty" over the newly proposed surveillance law.

Proton's newly launched privacy-first AI chatbot, Lumo, has become the first product to change home yet, "investing in Europe does not equate to leaving Switzerland," a company spokesperson told TechRadar, amid rumors it's exiting the country for good.

The firm behind one of the best VPN and encrypted email services has been very critical of the Swiss government’s proposed amendment of its surveillance law since the beginning, already sharing plans to quit Switzerland back in May.

If it passes, the Ordinance on the Surveillance of Correspondence by Post and Telecommunications (OSCPT) will introduce new obligations for virtual private networks (VPNs), messaging apps, and social networks. These measures include mandatory user identification and data retention of up to six months for all services with at least 5,000 users. Providers will also be required to decrypt the communication upon the authorities' request should they own encryption keys.

Lumo – the first to go

(Image credit: Proton)

Proton launched its ChatGPT competitor, Lumo, in July 2025, to give its users an alternative to Big Tech solutions that truly protect their privacy.

In a blog post about the launch, Proton's Head of Anti-Abuse and Account Security, Eamonn Maguire, explains that the company has decided to invest outside Switzerland for fear of the looming legal changes.

He wrote: "Because of legal uncertainty around Swiss government proposals to introduce mass surveillance – proposals that have been outlawed in the EU – Proton is moving most of its physical infrastructure out of Switzerland. Lumo will be the first product to move."

Talking to a Swiss publication after the launch, Proton's CEO Andy Yen confirmed that the proposed changes to the Swiss surveillance law made the company opt for Germany instead to host Lumo's servers. Proton has also confirmed it's also developing facilities in Norway.

While the company did not specify that Germany would become the new home of the majority of its infrastructure, Proton confirmed to TechRadar that investing in Europe doesn't equate to leaving Switzerland.

It's worth noting, however, that being based in the EU could make Proton, and similar companies, vulnerable to wider data retention or scanning obligations if proposals like the so-called ProtectEU or Chat Control were to pass.

We approached Proton for clarification on this point, but are still waiting for a reply at the time of publication.

What's next for the Swiss tech privacy industry?

Proton isn't the only provider that has been vocal against what critics have deemed Switzerland's "war against online anonymity."

Another VPN provider, NymVPN, confirmed back in May its intentions to leave Switzerland if the new surveillance rules are enforced.

Talking to TechRadar, Nym's co-founder and COO, Alexis Roussel, shares support for Proton's decision to find a new home for its private AI chatbot.

He said, "Proton is in a position that they are expanding, so it totally makes sense. You cannot invest in privacy in Switzerland right now."

Roussel also confirmed to TechRadar that the company has already developed a strategy to move its VPN activities outside Switzerland and the EU. Yet, this remains the last resort.

He also explains that the fact that Nym works on a decentralised infrastructure means that it won't be affected by the encryption provision, as the company doesn't hold any encryption keys.

"Depending on how they modify things within the law, this will affect our decision to move. But we would like to resist the ordinance until the end and go to the tribunal," said Roussel.

As reported by Cyberinsider, also secure and private messaging app Session said that, "while keeping a close eye on the situation," its decentralized structure means its services are less vulnerable to the changes.

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Strap in for a hauntingly good movie marathon, and binge-watch the whole Conjuring franchise.

• The iPhone 17 Pro will reportedly cost $50 more than the iPhone 16 Pro
• However, it's also said to start with twice as much storage
• Based on this and other leaks, we've predicted pricing for every iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max configuration

It’s now looking very likely that the iPhone 17 series – and in particular the iPhone 17 Pro – will cost more than the iPhone 16 series, with the latest leak pointing to a $50 price increase for the iPhone 17 Pro.

This tip comes from leaker Instant Digital (via MacRumors), and they’ve actually made the same iPhone 17 Pro price rise claim before. So, they're just reiterating it here, but this shows that they’re still confident in its accuracy. It’s not all bad news, either, as Instant Digital additionally states that there won’t be a 128GB model, so you’ll be getting 256GB for your money instead.

At $50 more than the current 128GB iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 17 Pro would start at $1,049, but again, that’s with 256GB of storage, and since the 256GB iPhone 16 Pro costs $1,099, that could actually be seen as a price decrease for the iPhone 17 Pro – at least for anyone who wants 256GB.

Predicting the other prices

This gives us some indication of what the other models and configurations might cost, but the same source (and others) have previously said to expect a $50 price increase across the board.

In which case, assuming the iPhone 17 Pro is the only phone to be getting a storage bump, prices might look like what you can see in the chart below.

Storage

iPhone 17

iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Pro Max

128GB

$849

N/A

N/A

256GB

$949

$1,049

$1,249

512GB

$1,149

$1,349

$1,449

1TB

N/A

$1,549

$1,649

Note that we haven’t included the iPhone 17 Air since this is a totally new model, so there’s no price history to work with. Mind you, there's a good chance that it'll have a similar price to the iPhone 16 Plus – or perhaps cost $50 more, in line with what we’re hearing about the other iPhone 17 models.

In any case, we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, but with Trump’s tariffs increasing production costs, it seems likely that the iPhone 17 series will cost more than the current models anyway.

We should find out in September, with leaks suggesting September 9 could be the date when Apple will announce the iPhone 17 series.

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Hundreds of former air force reservists and pilots join a chorus of defense establishment figures calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

(Image credit: Itay Stern NPR)

• Razer's Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC has been released, an evolution of the Wolverine V3 Pro controller
• The controller features Razer’s 8000 Hz HyperPolling tech, which is also offered in Razer's impressive Viper 8K gaming mouse, for the best input response
• A Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition 8K PC is also available for purchase

Razer has announced the launch of its Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, a next-generation controller built specifically for PC gaming and featuring new improvements.

As the next evolution of the Wolverine V3 Pro controller, this latest model features Razer’s 8000 Hz HyperPolling technology for both wired and wireless gaming, which should offer an impressive "near-instantaneous" input response for first-person shooter (FPS) gaming.

This tech was also present in Razer's excellent Viper 8K gaming mouse, one of the fastest, most responsive gaming mice TechRadar has ever seen.

The Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC also offers TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) Thumbsticks with swappable caps and provides anti-drift performance and long-lasting durability, which is a must for pinpoint accuracy in FPS games.

It's also Razer's lightest wireless esports controller to date, featuring an ergonomic shape that reduces hand fatigue during long gaming sessions, four mouse click back buttons, and two claw grip bumpers that are fully remappable, Razer Pro HyperTriggers, and more.

The controller also comes packaged with a carrying case and a 2m braided cable for portability.

"PC gamers have long demanded a controller that doesn’t compromise on speed, precision, or customization," said Nick Bourne, head of mobile and console division at Razer. "With the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, we’ve delivered exactly that — a controller built specifically for the PC ecosystem.

"From the industry’s fastest polling rate to our lightest wireless form factor, this is the definitive device for competitive PC players who want every advantage."

Razer is also launching the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition 8K PC, a wired variant offering the aforementioned features "designed for players who demand uncompromising performance and zero-latency input."

"Engineered with the same elite-level features as its wireless counterpart, the Tournament Edition delivers precision and responsiveness through a direct wired connection, making it the ideal choice for competitive gamers," Razer said.

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC is now available for purchase at $199.99 / £179.99 GBP, while the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition 8K PC will cost $119.99 / £99.99 GBP.

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• Universal Print anywhere, or pull printing, is now generally available for Microsoft 365
• Users authenticate print jobs when they arrive at their chosen printer
• It avoids privacy blunders and waste from duplicates

Microsoft has released 'Universal Print anywhere' for all Microsoft 365 organizations at no extra cost, all in a bid to improve security by avoiding erroneous prints to wrong locations.

The company's Nishant Lakhanpal explained in a blog post that users can "print securely from any location and retrieve their documents at any printer" – a feature which has become known as 'pull print'.

It means that users will have to authorize print jobs once they arrive at their chosen printer, meaning important or private documents won't automatically print and end up in unwanted hands.

Microsoft brings pull printing to all eligible users

The feature works by sending print jobs without selecting a specific printer in advance, so documents can be retrieved from any registered corporate printer by authenticating on the device. It also saves users from having to trawl through long printer lists to find the right printer – which often leads to mistakes.

"Universal Print anywhere ensures that confidential documents are never left on printers for unauthorized viewing," Lakhanpal wrote.

Apart from the security benefits, Microsoft also notes that pull printing helps to reduce waste by avoiding duplicate printing caused by forgotten or uncollected print jobs.

"The feature is included with your existing Universal Print licensing at no additional cost," Microsoft confirmed.

Handily, Universal Print anywhere works across Windows and macOS platforms, meaning that all employees can use the functionality without being bound to Microsoft's own operating system. To participate with Universal Print anywhere, admins must register printers to the network.

Looking ahead, Microsoft has also committed to extending Universal Print anywhere to even more OEMs to ensure maximum device compatibility and support.

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