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• Apple's affordable MacBook has again been rumored
• This time we're told the price could be as cheap as $599
• The apparent idea is for Apple to 'shake up the notebook market' and also offset any price increase for the MacBook Air (caused by inflation)

Apple's affordable MacBook, which was recently rumored to be in the pipeline, is again the subject of chatter on the grapevine - and this time we've heard it could be priced as cheaply as $599.

Wccftech flagged a post from leaker Jukan on X (see below), which airs a report from DigiTimes that taps sources in the supply chain over in Asia, spilling some fresh info on said MacBook.

Report: Exclusive: Apple reportedly preparing US$599 MacBook to capture more laptop market shareApple is preparing to shake up the notebook market with an all-new ultra-low-cost MacBook, according to supply chain sources. Some components are expected to enter mass production by… pic.twitter.com/UTIC94KjsbAugust 11, 2025

We're told that the MacBook is set to be priced between $599 and $699 in the US, and some components will be made in Q3 of this year - potentially more or less right away - ahead of notebooks being put together towards the end of 2025.

This is ahead of a rumored launch in (early) 2026, although this new report even mentions the chance of a commercial launch late in 2025 - but that doesn't seem likely to me (unless it's referring to an initial reveal, perhaps).

As we've previously been told, one of the main ways in which Apple will keep the price of this purported MacBook down is by using an iPhone chip as the processor. DigiTimes reminds us that the CPU will supposedly be the A18 Pro, and the laptop will be a compact affair, smaller than the MacBook Air, in fact, with a 12.9-inch screen.

Analysis: Laptop quake

(Image credit: Future)

The report makes it clear that Apple intends to "shake up the notebook market" with this "ultra-low-cost MacBook," and if the price does land as low as $599, that'll certainly be a seismic shift in terms of the laptop landscape.

Obviously, bear in mind that this is just a rumor, and further consider that the pricing we have is a range ($599 to $699), indicating Apple hasn't decided itself yet, which is doubtless the case. If this affordable MacBook is even happening in the first place, although given that we're hearing about it once again, that seems a fair bit more likely. If the rumors around Q3 production of components are correct, there will likely be a good deal more supply chain-based spillage in the near future to back all this up.

DigiTimes makes it clear that the education sector - and Chromebooks - are not the target of this theoretical MacBook, and rather, it's the broader market, with Apple looking to offset the MacBook Air potentially going up in price (due to inflation) with this cheaper offering.

With Mac sales suffering notable wobbles last year, Apple is surely looking to ensure that trend doesn't reemerge, and instead, the company will want to keep the tide turning. (Apple's fiscal Q3 saw a turnaround with Mac sales, although that was compared to weak sales in the same quarter of 2024).

Whatever the reason for Apple producing this low-cost MacBook, if it is indeed priced at $599, it's going to be a seriously tempting product. Indeed, such a laptop might just tempt me to finally buy a macOS device - something I've mulled in recent times, despite a lifetime of buying Windows PCs and laptops.

It's either that, or an entry-level Mac mini, but until now, the cost of MacBooks has put me off, frankly - although maybe next year, that will change. I'm keen to give Apple's computing world a spin, if the price is right, bearing in mind that an MSRP of $599 is going to lead to some highly enticing discounts in sales (or with refurbs, even).

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In November last year, I wrote that the Google Pixel 9 Pro was the best-looking phone of 2024 and the only Android device that could tempt me away from my beloved iPhone. Ultimately, I still sided with the iPhone 16 Pro (the call of convenience was too hard to resist), but Google seems determined to win me over in 2025 with the Pixel 10 Pro.

Google’s next flagship is set to debut at this year’s Made by Google showcase on August 20, but it’s already been semi-unveiled in an official teaser video. The footage in question shows the back and one side of what’s purported to be the Pixel 10 Pro in a brand new ‘Moonstone’ color, and it’s heightened my excitement for the phone’s full-blown reveal.

Now, I’m not usually one to lose my head over colors, but this silverish-blue shade seemingly complements Google’s new (or rather, unchanged) flagship Pixel design perfectly. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the Google Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone is already the best-looking phone of 2025 – and yes, I’ve seen the rumored iPhone 17 Pro design.

To be clear: the Pixel 10 Pro looks almost identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. Leaked renders suggest that the phone’s metal frame will more closely resemble its rear panel glass (rather than being polished, as on the Pixel 9 Pro). But beyond that, it’s safe to expect a like-for-like handset; I don’t think this is a bad thing.

An official image of a phone believed to be the Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)

Google hit a home run with the design of the Pixel 9 Pro, which, in my opinion, is the Android phone that’s come closest to replicating the iPhone’s unique synergy of simplicity and style. It remixed the Pixel formula with flat aluminum sides, a frosted glass rear panel, and a perfectly sized pill-shaped module, all of which made the Pixel line feel more grown-up.

Google is right to stick by this cleaner, more industrial aesthetic with the Pixel 10 Pro, and the addition of a new ‘Moonstone’ color (as opposed to something more outlandish) suggests Google wants its next flagship phone to be perceived as just that: a grown-up flagship.

Of course, design is subjective. I’m sure many people continue to prefer the uniquely Pixel aesthetic of the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, and so on. I can understand why.

But I genuinely believe that Google is one of the few – perhaps the only – smartphone manufacturers to have successfully designed a better-looking phone with each new generation. And if the below X post is anything to go by, Google thinks so too:

10 generations in the making. Look for #Pixel10 in 10 days at #MadeByGoogle: https://t.co/VxzWRaYodH pic.twitter.com/ER8qtFcDv5August 10, 2025

Will I finally switch sides and buy the Pixel 10 Pro is year? Probably not. But that’s only because a decade of investing in Apple hardware has made ditching the iPhone more trouble than it's worth. The Pixel 9 Pro was the best-looking phone of last year, and, for me, the Pixel 10 Pro has already repeated the feat in 2025.

For more on Google's next flagship, check out our roundup of the five upgrades to expect from the Google Pixel 10 Pro.

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President Trump called for the release of the grand jury transcripts after growing pressure to divulge more information about Jeffrey Epstein's case, but the judge on the case said there is nothing new to release.

(Image credit: New York State Sex Offender Registry)

• President Trump set to meet with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan
• The President recently called for the CEO's immediate resignation
• Trump accused Tan of major "conflicts of interest" because of his investments in Chinese companies

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is set to meet with President Trump to discuss the former's professional and personal history, and explore ways in which the US government and Intel can work together, sources have told the Wall Street Journal.

Tan has recently faced a series of attacks from President Trump, who has demanded his resignation over alleged investments and dealing with Chinese businesses.

Trump has accused Tan of being “highly conflicted” and demanded his “immediate resignation,” stating that there is “no other solution to this problem.”

Rocky history

Intel has been steadily trimming its global workforce in recent months, leading to a 20% reduction in headcount that has seen thousands of employees lose their jobs in US factories

Tan has also recently butted heads with Intel board members over the direction of Intel’s investments in the US.

For example, the new CEO has reduced the pace of construction of a new factory in Ohio in order to meet perceived customer demands, causing issues with Republican Ohio senator Bernie Moreno.

Both the job cuts and slowed construction directly contradict President Trump’s desire to increase domestic investment from companies that have typically manufactured goods outside of the US.

What’s more, Tan’s previous position as CEO of Cadence Design Systems appears to have ruffled a few feathers in the Trump administration due to the company recently handing over $140 million in penalties after pleading guilty to unlawfully exporting chip design tools to restricted Chinese military organizations.

Tan himself also holds numerous investments in Chinese businesses, including buying $200 million worth of stakes in Chinese manufacturing and chip companies between 2012 and 2024 according to a Reuters report.

However, Tan has not only been on the board of numerous enterprises involved in chip manufacturing, but founded a venture capital firm named Walden International that focused heavily on tech startups in the Asian market.

Tan’s holdings in Chinese companies could therefore simply be a smart investment based on decades of experience, rather than the shady under-the-table dealings Trump has alleged in his Red Scare tirades on Truth Social.

Trump appears to be deaf to his own accusations of Tan’s “conflicts of interest,” with the President frequently using his position to market his own goods from the Trump Store, as well as launching the $TRUMP cryptocurrency of which the President controls 80% of the coin's supply.

(Image credit: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In a recent letter to employees, Tan said the US had been his home for more than 40 years, and the company was communicating with the White House to make sure the President has “the facts.”

Trump has recently levied significant tariffs on countries that he perceives to have an unfair trade balance, causing the price of some goods to increase as the cost of imports are passed on to the consumer - a fact that many within the Trump administration and his MAGA base are struggling to come to terms with.

Trump’s pursuit of an America First policy has drawn significant investment from many major companies, including Nvidia, Intel, and Apple, to build factories in the US to produce goods domestically. However there is a reason that these companies have historically manufactured their goods outside of the US. It’s cheaper.

Recent studies into the costs of a US manufactured iPhone for example have theorized that the price tag could rise by between 25-100%.

In an added contradiction, Trump’s own branded handsets from Trump Mobile likely won’t be manufactured in the US, with Eric Trump claiming that “Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America.”

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• Columbia University files form with the Maine Attorney General's Office
• It confirmed the number of victims, and the type of data stolen
• Victims are being offered free credit and identity theft monitoring services

A massive cyberincident affecting almost 870,000 Columbia University students, employees, and other individuals occured in May 2025, the university has confirmed.

In a new filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, the university said in late June 2025 it experienced an outage in its IT systems, prompting an investigation with the support of third-party cybersecurity and forensics experts.

The investigation confirmed the outage was the result of a cyberattack, in which yet unidentified perpetrators stole sensitive data on exactly 868,969 people, including employees, applicants, students (both current and former), and various family members.

460 GB of data taken

"Our investigation determined that, on or about May 16, 2025, an unauthorized third-party gained access to Columbia's network and subsequently took certain files from our system," Columbia University said.

"To date, we have no evidence that any Columbia University Irving Medical Center patient records were affected."

The university recently started notifying affected individuals via letters which detailed the type of information stolen in the breach:

"The affected data included your name, date of birth, and Social Security number, as well as any personal information that you provided in connection with your application to Columbia, or that we collected during your studies if you enrolled," the university apparently said.

"This included your contact details, demographic information, academic history, financial aid-related information, and any insurance-related information and health information that you shared with us."

Some attackers confirmed the breach, and claimed to have stolen 460 GB of data. So far, there is no evidence that the data was abused in the wild, but Columbia University will provide victims with two years of free credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity theft protection services, through Kroll, regardless.

How to stay safe

While victims directly cannot do much about the stolen data, they can make sure the attackers don’t use it against them. The best course of action is to remain vigilant with incoming communications, especially those claiming to come from Columbia University.

Unsolicited emails, instant messages, or phone calls, particularly those “threatening” to terminate accounts or otherwise prevent services, are most likely bogus.

If you suspect you’re being targeted, the best course of action is to stop all communication, and then reach out to Columbia University directly, through proven channels.

Via BleepingComputer

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Alien: Earth is finally close to hatching on TV screens across the globe. The highly-anticipated project and first-ever show set in the Alien franchise will burst forth later this week, so you'll want to know when and where you can stream it.

Below, I've provided more details on its various release dates and launch times. I'll also fill you in on which streaming platforms it'll be available on and provide you with a full release schedule, so you can block out time in your busy schedule to watch new episodes when they drop.

What is the release date and launch time for Alien: Earth episodes 1 and 2?

Alien fans heading over to their streamer of choice to watch the franchise's maiden TV show like... (Image credit: FX Network/Hulu/Disney+)

That depends on where you live. Those of you in North and South America can tune in to watch its two-episode premiere on Tuesday, August 12. Meanwhile, viewers in the UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia can catch them on Wednesday, August 13.

As for those all-important launch times, here's when Alien: Earth will debut on Hulu (US only) and Disney+ (everywhere else). NB: if your nation isn't listed below, use the 5pm PT option to work out when you should load up Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

• US – Tuesday, August 12 at 5pm PT / 8pm PT
• Canada – Tuesday, August 12 at 5pm PT / 8pm PT
• UK – Wednesday, August 13 at 1am BST
• India – Wednesday, August 13 at 5:30am IST
• Singapore – Wednesday, August 13 at 8am SGT
• Australia – Wednesday, August 13 at 10am AEST
• New Zealand – Wednesday, August 13 at 12pm NZST

When will new episodes of Alien: Earth air on Hulu and Disney+?

Yep, the Alien property's famous Xenomorphs are part of proceedings (Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu)

You can catch new entries every Tuesday in North and South America, and Wednesdays everywhere else. For more information, check out the list below:

• Alien: Earth episode 1 – Tuesday, August 12 / Wednesday, August 13
• Alien: Earth episode 2 – Tuesday, August 12 / Wednesday, August 13
• Alien: Earth episode 3 – Tuesday, August 19 / Wednesday, August 20
• Alien: Earth episode 4 – Tuesday, August 26 / Wednesday, August 27
• Alien: Earth episode 5 – Tuesday, September 2 / Wednesday, September 3
• Alien: Earth episode 6 – Tuesday, September 9 / Wednesday, September 10
• Alien: Earth episode 7 – Tuesday, September 16 / Wednesday, September 17
• Alien: Earth episode 8 – Tuesday, September 23 / Wednesday, September 24

Before its first two chapters arrive, read my Alien: Earth review and our dedicated Alien: Earth guide. Then, check out the section below for more exclusive coverage on the forthcoming sci-fi horror TV Original from FX Networks.

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If you're looking for the best supplements to boost your immune system, you've come to the right place.

Looking for some fast and affordable internet in the City of Brotherly Love? Our broadband experts are here to help you stay connected with these top picks.

Commentary: As someone who has been writing about the iPhone for over a decade, I'm ready to see Apple step it up in this perhaps unexpected way.

But my testing showed me I'm not patient enough to get the truly best results.

President Trump has deployed federal agents in the nation's capital to crack down on crime and homelessness. And, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet Friday in Alaska.

(Image credit: Andrew Leyden)

Updated design, better battery life and a few surprise health features... Here's everything we expect on the next Apple Watch straight from the rumor mill (and the CEO himself).

I download a lot of content online, and managing it can be hectic. Slow speeds, failing to keep track of files, and unstable connections are just a few of the issues I frequently face when downloading content. That’s why I always try to use the best download manager to mitigate these issues.

One of the best download managers available is Free Download Manager, which has a noticeably direct name. This app was initially proprietary and closed-source, but the developers later made it free and open-source.

It's important to use the website link above (https://www.freedownloadmanager.org/) to download it, as people often mistakenly download botched versions from external sources. Malicious actors can bundle open-source apps with malware programs, so downloading from the official source keeps you safe.

I comprehensively tested the Free Download Manager to give an honest opinion. My review mainly centered on its features and user-friendliness. Read on to learn more about this app and whether it’s a good download manager for you.

Free Download Manager: Versions

The Free Download Manager is compatible with popular desktop and mobile operating systems. You can download it on Windows and macOS directly from the official website. The Windows app is also listed on the Microsoft Store. I used a Mac PC for my test, and installing the app was smooth.

I also downloaded the Android app to test its mobile friendliness. However, there is no iOS app, which I consider a drawback.

Free Download Manager: Features

The Free Download Manager has rich features to help you manage your content downloads. I appreciate that it’s a free, open-source tool with no ads. I’ve encountered a handful of free download managers with excessive ads, and I was happy not to see that here.

I usually download a lot of content via torrents, so I was pleased to discover that this app supports downloads via the BitTorrent protocol. You can upload a .torrent file, and it’ll immediately download the relevant content. The .torrent file contains the metadata of your desired content, which the app reads and immediately fetches from seeders via the BitTorrent protocol.

Apart from uploading .torrent files, many torrenting clients let you download torrents by providing the magnet link or torrent hash. Unfortunately, the Free Download Manager lacks these capabilities. You can only download torrents by adding the .torrent file. However, you can still download standard files (not torrents) by providing a URL.

(Image credit: Future)

I appreciated this app’s download acceleration feature, which let me split files into several sections and download them simultaneously. This technique offers faster speeds than downloading the complete file in one package. With files split into smaller bits, you can download them more quickly on slower connections.

Broken downloads are a significant issue for many users. When downloading content via a web browser, a download can progress halfway and fail because of an unstable connection. Then, you’ll have to redownload the file from scratch.

However, the Free Download Manager solves this broken downloads issue. When downloads are interrupted, you can resume them later from the exact spot where the interruption occurred. You’ll no longer have to curse at your computer for restarting bandwidth-heavy downloads from scratch, or at least I’ll no longer do.

I enjoyed previewing audio and video files while downloading them. For example, if you’re downloading the latest episode of your favorite series and are too impatient to wait for it to complete, you can start watching it while the download is in progress.

I also liked being able to automatically convert files after downloads. I have this frequent issue where I download videos in the MKV format, which my native video player doesn’t support. Hence, I immediately converted all MKV videos to MP4 upon downloading them.

(Image credit: Future)

The Free Download Manager allowed me to organize downloads neatly and place them in specific folders or subfolders. I liked the remote control feature, which allowed me to create new downloads on my PC from my Android smartphone. While at work, I initiated movie downloads on my home PC, and the movies were available to binge once I arrived home.

Having these features for free gave me a lot to appreciate about the Free Download Manager. Most download managers with similar features charge for their software or make money by showing ads.

Yet, I have a complaint. The Free Download Manager didn’t support YouTube downloads, although it did so sometime ago. Understandably, YouTube has taken more aggressive copyright action against download managers, so many apps turn off YouTube downloads to avoid legal tussles. Yet, I wish I could download educational YouTube videos with this tool.

Free Download Manager: Interface and in-use

The Free Download Manager excelled in the user-friendliness criterion. Its simple interface was easy to understand. To download a file, you can copy and paste the URL or add the .torrent file. It's that straightforward.

Users can monitor all their downloads from a single dashboard and pause or stop them anytime. I could view the progress of every download along with the thumbnail for easy identification. Before downloading a video or audio, I was constantly prompted to choose a file name, format, and folder to store it in.

You can choose between light and dark modes depending on your preferences. The desktop and Android apps feel modern and responsive. The same applies to the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

If you need help with this tool, you can visit the official community forum where users often exchange solutions to their issues. You can also check the official GitHub documentation to troubleshoot problems yourself.

Free Download Manager: Final verdict

I’ll recommend the Free Download Manager any day and anytime. It makes downloads management easy without paying a dime. Most comparable download managers are freemium or premium, but this one is entirely free and easy to understand.

• Ninja Download Manager
• Download Accelerator Plus
• JDownloader

• Four Polk speaker models, all with improved audio and weatherproofing
• Easier to install, even in hard-to-reach spaces
• From $225 per pair

Polk Audio has updated its Atrium series of outdoor speakers, which start at a very affordable $225 (so around £169 or AU$345, give or take).

Polk has been making speakers for the great outdoors for ages – the Atrium first launched way back in 1991 – and the latest models come with improved weather resistance, more versatile mounting options and "enhanced sonic performance", which from Polk should not be taken lightly.

(Image credit: Polk Audio)Polk Audio Atrium speakers 2025: models and pricing

There are four models in the range: the Atrium 4, the Atrium 5, the Atrium 6 and the Atrium 8SDI. Prices range from $225 per pair for the Atrium 5 to $550 for the Atrium 8SDI.

The mid-range drivers are now injection-molded mineral filled or aerated polypropylene, the same materials used in Polk's LSi Series, and the tweeters are anodized aluminum. The Atrium 6, 7 and 8SDI also get water-resistant PowerPort bass venting, which ups the low end by around 3dB.

Both tweeters and woofers have rubber surrounds, and the speakers have a new broad coverage baffle design that Polk says offers better sound dispersion than previous models. The grilles and brackets are aluminum to eliminate rusts issues and make the speakers last longer outdoors.

Another key update is the new Speed-Lock mounting system, which Polk says makes installation much easier – so much so that you can install the speakers one-handed "even in hard-to-reach locations".

As before the Atrium speakers come with a wide range of standards compliance including ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion, and Mil-Std 883 Method 1009.8 for salt and corrosion.

The new Atrium speakers are available now in black or white, and Polk says they're also paintable so you can customize them to fit any outdoor décor.

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• President Trump allows chip sales to China to resume - with one major caveat
• AMD and Nvidia will have to hand over 15% of the sales revenue
• No additional measures have been made to address national security threats

The US government has reversed a ban on the sale of Nvidia's H20 chip and AMD’s MI308 chip to China under the condition that 15% of the revenue is paid to the US government.

The Trump administration expanded efforts to curb China’s ability to obtain powerful chips used to develop AI models by expanding Biden-era sanctions to an outright ban on the sale of the processors.

Many security experts, including those working under the Trump administration, have warned the government the sale of powerful processors to China will help it to expand both its consumer and military AI efforts to surpass the US.

What happened to national security?

The Nvidia H20 and AMD MI308 processors were developed to comply with Biden administration restrictions on AI processing chips that could be sold in China. Restrictions were imposed on the sale of powerful AI chips to China due to national security concerns surrounding the development of AI models for the People’s Liberation Army.

Trump banned the sale of these chips to China following a trade spat in April 2025, and then reversed the ban in July. Now, seeing the apparent worth of the sales and hoping to cash in, the Trump administration is issuing a 15% revenue cut for itself.

Speaking to the BBC, Nvidia said, “We follow rules the US government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven't shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide.”

Whether this 15% revenue cut will be passed on to the Chinese market by Nvidia and AMD remains to be seen. But the elephant in the room still remains. What happened to the national security problem?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, said “You either have a national security problem or you don't. If you have a 15% payment, it doesn't somehow eliminate the national security issue."

Despite sanctions and trade bans, China has still managed to import powerful AI processing chips through loopholes and third-parties, and is likely using the chips to train AI systems to be used for military purposes.

20 security experts wrote a letter to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick advising against the sales of the chips to the Chinese market, adding that even though the majority of the buyers would be civilian companies, the chips would still be used by China’s military.

“Chips optimized for AI inference will not simply power consumer products or factory logistics; they will enable autonomous weapons systems, intelligence surveillance platforms and rapid advances in battlefield decision-making,” the letter said.

Charlie Dai, vice president and principal analyst at global research firm Forrester called the deal “unprecedented,” further stating that, “The arrangement underscores the high cost of market access amid escalating tech trade tensions, creating substantial financial pressure and strategic uncertainty for tech vendors.”

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I'm happy we don't have to live with Apple's choice.

• Buds 2a are predicted to launch on 20th August 2025
• Leaks suggest ANC and Spatial Audio, but no head tracking
• Reports also suggest a 50% price hike in Europe

It's been a few days since the last Google Pixel Buds 2a leak, so we're due another big one – and well-known leaker Evan Blass is happy to oblige. Posting on X, Blass has published a leaked spec sheet that fills in some of the blanks from previous leaks.

The spec sheet also does something useful: it shows how the more affordable buds compare to the current Google Pixel Buds Pro 2.

(Image credit: Evan Blass / X)Google Pixel Buds 2a: key features and pricing

Like the Buds Pro 2, the Google Pixel Buds 2a should have active noise cancellation, but they don't appear to have the Pros' Silent Seal, which adapts the ANC further based on the shape of your ears.

There are three other key differences here: the Buds 2a get spatial audio, but they aren't getting head tracking; the Buds 2a don't have wireless charging; and they don't have conversation detection. The only other spec on the sheet is battery life, which is a promised 7 hours – and 20 with the charging case. By comparison the Buds Pro 2 get 8 hours and 30 hours respectively.

This isn't the only Google Pixel Buds 2a leak. According to the German tech site WinFuture, which has also posted new renders of the earbuds, there's going to be a price hike in Europe: where the Pixel Buds A were €99, the Buds 2a will reportedly be €149. That's a huge price increase and if it's reflected in other markets would mean $149 / £149 / AU$195).

On a related note: if you're already a Google Pixel Buds Pro user and don't want to buy new buds any time soon, there's a little bit of good news for you: Google is rolling out a nifty visual upgrade to Android's headphone and earbud status notifications to make it easier to check battery levels. Thanks to Android Police for that one.

Of course, the Pixel Buds 2a leaks above are unofficial and should be treated as such – speculation and possible feature sets, rather than stone cold reported fact. But when we know more about the unreleased Pixel Buds 2a, so shall you.

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• M&S has finally restored its in-store click and collect service
• The cyber incident was disclosed in April 2025
• Online orders for delivery were restored in June

Marks and Spencer (M&S) has finally restarted click and collect orders for clothing, home and beauty products after a nearly four-month suspension following an apparent major cyberattack.

Although the company had resumed online orders for delivery on June 10 after it disclosed details of a cyber incident on April 22 (and stopped deliveries and collections from April 25), M&S took a further 15 weeks to switch back on its click and collect services.

The cyber incident was previously expected to cost the company around £300 million in lost operating profit for this fiscal year, but M&S hopes to halve the impact via insurance and cost controls.

M&S click and collect back online

However, although the restoration of click and collect signals a 'back to normal' for customers, analysts aren't expecting a sudden resurgence as M&S continues to battle with reputational damages.

Although the British retail giant took a major hit, the industry didn't, and rivals like Sainsburys and Next were able to scoop up some of the lost business.

M&S CEO Stuart Machin had previously stated the effects of the incident could continue into June and July, signalling a restoration in August, and the company has been able to adhere to that.

Detailing its learnings in Parliament, M&S has urged stronger cyber-incident disclosure norms. The counsel also noted that companies should be able to operate manually during outages.

The UK's National Crime Agency arrested four people in a probe tied to attacks on M&S, Co-op and Harrods, however the true cause of the incident still remains uncertain.

The attacks against Marks and Spencer (M&S) and the Co-op supermarket were combined into a single incident by the same attacker by the Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC), an independent, non-profit body established to categorize major cyber events by the insurance industry.

It had been reported the group known as Scattered Spider was behind the ordeal, but TCS, which has been servicing M&S for more than a decade, is also investigating whether it was the stepping stone to the attack.

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Steve Inskeep speaks with author and conservative commentator Max Boot about the changing world order.

Social media is full of videos saying hormonal contraception can hurt you and promoting natural alternatives. How did the treatments get such a bad reputation and do alternatives work?