News
- Magnitude 8.8 earthquake strikes off Russia's east coast
- The epicenter is near two local subsea cables, which remain operational
- The Pacific is filled with other cables, but they could be safe from disruptions
After the sixth-largest quake in recorded history struck off the eastern coast of Russia, experts have been quick to reassure that critical subsea cables used for internet and data transfer remain secure.
Rated to magnitude 8.8, tsunami warnings are now being shared across the whole North Pacific region, including Japan and America's West Coast, with waves already arriving in Hawaii, and Japanese low-lying coastal towns being urged to evacuate.
However, so far there have been no effects on critical infrastructure, with subsea cables remaining in tact.
Russian earthquake didn't prompt internet outagesSo far, no outages have been reported by communication facilities, cloud computing services or chipmaking plants, with the likes of AWS, Azure and Google Cloud still operating normally.
Russia’s Rostelecom has not reported any disruptions to its subsea cable connecting Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with Anadyr, despite its location near to the quake site.
The 10-point Polar Express subsea cable that's currently under construction, also connecting Russian locations and also located near the earthquake's epicenter, doesn't look to have been disrupted, though the quake could cause delays to the project.
Although no other cables transit near the epicenter, the Pacific is filled with major subsea cable networks, including Google's Topaz and Jupiter, which is part-owned by AWS and Meta.
Still, subsea cables are generally buries in trenches for the first few kilometres offshore. Once they're exposed on the ocean floor, they're deep enough not to be majorly affected by tsunami water columns. The biggest risk is earthquake-triggered submarine landslides which threaten to break cables, as seen when nine Asia-Pacific cables snapped in the 2006 magnitude 7.0 Taiwan earthquake.
Hyperscalers also make use of multiple Availability Zones, meaning that even if Russia's earthquake were to affect one area, traffic could be rerouted within hours.
Via The Register
You might also like- Orange warns customers of an ongoing cyberattack
- The attack forced it to isolate parts of its network
- This isolation could cause disruptions, it warned
Orange Group, one of the world’s leading telecom operators, has warned about a cyberattack that disrupted some of its services.
In a statement, the French telecom giant said on July 25, it detected a cyberattack on one of its information systems. Moving in to mitigate the threat, the company was forced to “isolate” potentially affected services, causing disruption to different management services and platforms.
Both business customers, as well as “a few” consumer services, primarily located in France, could experience temporary service disruptions or be completely offline for some users, Orange said. “Our dedicated teams are actively engaged in informing and assisting the affected customers.”
Salt TyphoonThe company said it identified and is currently implementing solutions that will allow it to gradually restore the affected services. At press time, most of the services should already be back up and running.
While there was no talk of the threat actors, how they broke in, or what their motives were, Orange did say that there was no evidence suggesting any data exfiltration or tampering. However, it still lodged a formal complaint with the regulators and filed notices with relevant authorities.
“For obvious security reasons, Orange will not provide further comments,” Orange concluded.
Being critical infrastructure, telecommunications organizations are constantly at the crosshairs of different hacking groups and state-sponsored cybercriminals.
Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored group and a part of the wider “typhoon” collective of hackers, has been targeting telecoms for some time, striking some of the world’s biggest and most popular brands.
The goal is to remain hidden inside the network, in case tensions between China and the US over Taiwan escalate into a full-blown war. In that case, the groups are tasked with disrupting services, eavesdropping on vital communications, and exfiltrating sensitive information.
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- Mario Kart World version 1.2.0 is here
- It adds a new way to track progress in Free Roam
- It also nerfs NPC opponents and the Boomerang item
The latest patch for Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World is here, and it's a big one.
Update 1.2.0 is available now and there's plenty to be excited about. First and foremost, completionists will surely appreciate the new way to tell when they've hoovered up all the collectibles in free roam mode.
Now, when you have collected all of the P Switches, ? Panels, or Peach Medallions, the color of the on-screen numbers will change to denote that there are none left. This should make it a lot easier to keep track of what you need to scoop up for 100% completion.
The update also nerfs the Boomerang item, reducing its homing capabilities which should come as a relief if you've been repeatedly hit by it during races like I have. Non-playable character (NPC) opponents have also been made a little weaker outside of Battle mode, which will hopefully make races a little more manageable.
Other big changes include the ability to select a 'Mushrooms only' item rule in VS Races, or view the replays of downloaded time trial ghost data.
The update also includes a large number of fixes, addressing issues in both online and single-player modes.
You can view the full patch notes, as released by Nintendo, below:
- In the “VS Race” of “Single Player”, added “No COM” to the COM rules.
- In the “VS Race” of “Single Player” and “Multiplayer”, added “Mushrooms only” to the item rules.
- You can now choose “View Replay” after downloading ghost data in “Time Trials”.
- You can now choose whom to watch when spectating in “Knockout Tour” and “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play”, “Wireless Play”, and “LAN Play”.
- You can now see the waiting time until the next race or battle starts in “Online Play”, “Wireless Play”, and “LAN Play”.
- When using CameraPlay in “Multiplayer” and “Online Play”, the game will now remember the camera cursor position and size until the player closes the game.
- If you change the number of people playing, the cursor position and size will return to their original settings.
- On the “Free Roam” map, when you gather all of the P Switches, ? Panels, and Peach Medallions, the colors of the various numbers will now change.
- Made COM weaker in everything other than “Battle”.
- Made homing of Boomerang weaker.
- Decreased the probability of getting a Triple Dash Mushroom in the low position, whenever the item rules in a race are anything other than “Frantic”.
- Changed it so order of getting ? Block is higher than in the past, whenever the item rules in a race are anything other than “Frantic”.
- Made it so there is a wheel spinning animation if the player presses the A button (acceleration) too early when starting a race while driving.
- Player will not lose speed even when spinning wheels.
- Increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in “VS Race” and wireless races.
Fixed Issues:
- Fixed an issue where the rate fluctuations were sometimes displayed incorrectly in wireless races.
- Fixed an issue where the vehicle would stay floating in air when jumping off a half pipe.
- Fixed an issue where, when a player crashes while gliding and uses Bullet Bill, they go out of the course.
- Fixed an issue where, if a player quits a Rewind in the location where they were wall riding, the driver’s posture would not return to what it was before.
- Fixed an issue where the item that was displayed in the item slot would turn into something else when using it.
- Fixed an issue where in “Online Play”, the player would not dash even when getting on a Dash Panel.
- Fixed an issue where the points in a team race in “Wireless Play” would display incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable on the menu screen after the player was retired in “Balloon Battle” in “Wireless Play”.
- Fixed an issue where a Peach Medallion would sometimes disappear when doing Rewind in “Free Roam”.
- Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable when the player pointed the cursor at their own character or course and pressed A on the “Free Roam” map.
- Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable when the player quit a mission in “Free Roam” right before entering a pipe.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through some drift ice around “Sky-High Sundae”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the outside of a handrail on the left and right sides right after the start of “Airship Fortress”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the fence and not be able to move forward in “Bowser's Castle”.
- Fixed an issue where, when the player used a Bullet Bill in “Bowser's Castle”, they would not be able to glide and fell into the abyss.
- Fixed an issue where the player would go out of the course when using a Mega Mushroom on the last turn of “Whistlestop Summit”.
- Fixed an issue where the player could not get out of the location where they fell from a railroad when “Smart Steering” is on in “Whistlestop Summit”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ground at a ramp near the goal at “Choco Mountain”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on a block when using a Bullet Bill on the road that enters “Choco Mountain”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on a plank of wood laid on the road when throwing a green shell on the road between “DK Spaceport” and “Whistlestop Summit”.
- Fixed an issue where the last place would be sometimes incorrect in the wireless races of “Dino Dino Jungle”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the back of a leaf when using a Bullet Bill in “Acorn Heights”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would not be able to slip through a vase that is placed on the road in “Shy Guy Bazaar”, when using a Boo.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ceiling in “Dry Bones Burnout”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would sometimes hit a fence when throwing a red shell on the first turn in “Moo Moo Meadows”.
- Fixed an issue where one part of the effects that take place for the bridge transforming when heading toward “Rainbow Road” did not display.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ground on the road between ”Starview Peak” and “Sky-High Sundae”.
- Fixed an issue where some of the item boxes would not have appeared in “Wario Shipyard”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the bottom of a rock near the goal of ”Wario Shipyard”.
- Fixed an issue where the player would go out of the course when using a Mega Mushroom on a turn inside “Wario Stadium”.
- Fixed an issue where the player gets caught on a tree in the middle of a shortcut if they have “Smart Steering” on when heading from “Starview Peak” to “Dandelion Depths” in “Ice Rally” of “Knockout Tour”.
- Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
Mario Kart World is available now for Nintendo Switch 2. It is offered either separately as a physical release or digital download, or as part of a bundle with the console.
You might also like...- Free VPNs are among the most downloaded apps in UK app store
- A surge in downloads follows the introduction of an age verification law
- Users could be putting their privacy at risk with less reputable free VPNs
VPNs are now among the most downloaded apps in UK app stores following the implementation of age verification. As of July 25, 2025, the UK’s new law requires sites hosting content deemed for adults to carry out age verification checks.
Internet users in the UK must prove they’re over 18 using verification methods including facial age estimation – sharing a selfie or video – or uploading a form of ID. The new law also impacts social media platforms including Reddit, X, and Bluesky.
Age verification comes as the government looks to protect minors from harmful content, as per the Online Safety Act. Some of the best VPN apps are now topping the Apple App Store and Google Play Store as users look to bypass age checks.
(Image credit: Future)Free VPNs dominate Apple's UK App StoreAt the time of writing, Proton VPN leads the top free apps on the UK’s Apple App Store. The Swiss VPN provider reported a 1,800% increase in signups in the weekend following the new law’s implementation.
(Image credit: Proton)NordVPN, VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy, and Free VPN by Free VPN.org also make the top five most downloaded free apps in the UK.
The rise in VPN downloads comes despite Ofcom, the UK’s internet regulator, discouraging the use of VPNs to bypass verification. It told the BBC it would be illegal for platforms to promote VPNs as a means to get around age checks.
At the time of writing, over 420,000 people have signed a petition to repeal the Online Safety Act, with many concerned about the privacy risks that age verification carries.
The importance of choosing a reputable VPNOfcom’s assurances that “strong age checks can be done effectively, safely, and in a way that protects [user] privacy” may not be enough to ease concerns amid recent high-profile data breaches.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a privacy tool that encrypts your internet traffic, allowing you to browse privately. By connecting to a VPN server, you can secure your connection to the verification provider, reducing the risk of issues should they be victims of a data breach.
The trouble with some free VPNs being among those most downloaded by UK app store users is that these apps may log excessive data, identifying users and putting privacy at risk. They may also lack essential security features – such as strong encryption – that help keep user data safe.
Proton VPN Free, from privacy-first company Proton, being the most downloaded free VPN app, suggests that UK internet users are, at least, putting privacy first in their quest for access. It's among the best free VPNs, offering Swiss privacy and top security features for no cost.
UK internet users looking to browse the internet privately also have the option of paid VPN providers, some of which offer free trials. Most have money-back guarantees of at least 30 days, making it possible to try their services risk-free and request a refund if unsatisfied.
Right now, the best paid VPN is NordVPN. It has some of the fastest speeds around, rock-solid security, and a bunch of added features that make your everyday easier. Plus, TechRadar readers can exclusively claim up to $50 in Amazon gift vouchers and 4 months free when they sign up.
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- Users on Reddit have spotted a new feature on the Spotify mobile app that allows you to remove the Create button
- While users are more than happy to see it gone, the feature is only available to a handful of users
- Spotify has been quiet, so we've done our own little Reddit investigation to get to the bottom of it
When Spotify added the Create button to the in-app navigation bar, it was very poorly received and music fans begged to have it removed, mainly because it messes up muscle memory. Now, it appears as though Spotify is listening to those complaints.
A few weeks back, Android Authority reported that Spotify could be releasing a new toggle setting that would allow you to remove the Create button from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. This was initially speculation, but now a number of users have shared images on Reddit showing a new toggle under the ‘Display preferences’ header in Spotify’s settings. Not everyone has access to it yet though – myself included.
While Spotify hasn’t made an official announcement, the online discourse suggests that the music streaming service could be rolling it out gradually since a handful of users already have access. However, despite the absence of the new feature in my app, the Create button has disappeared from my interface (see below). This was confusing, so I took to Reddit to see what others had to say.
In my Spotify app, the Create button has been moved back to the top right corner, but there's no sign of the new toggle feature in settings (Image credit: Future)Is this the end for one of Spotify’s most annoying features?What do we know so far? Well, despite Spotify being silent on the matter, evidence on Reddit reveals that this feature is slowly joining the settings ecosystem for some Spotify users. The post below reveals this, which shows the new feature sitting in the ‘Content and display’ section in settings under ‘Display preferences’.
Comment from r/truespotifyBut why would Spotify remove the Create button from my app without giving me access to the disable toggle? From the responses I’ve received, it suggests that a new Spotify update could be on the way.
Right now I’m using version 9.0.64, which the App Store says is the most recent. While this is the case for a lot of people here at TechRadar, most of the people on the team are still seeing the Create button in the navigation bar, which isn’t the case for me. With that said, one user with the feature shared on Reddit that they’re using version 9.0.64.608 – meaning that Spotify could be testing different versions of the app before deciding to go ahead with a roll out.
If you’re still waiting to get access to the new feature, I’ve been advised to wait another day or two before expecting its arrival, so for now, that’s what I’m rolling with. In the meantime, we've reached out to Spotify for confirmation and will update this story if we hear back.
You might also likeIf you were paying attention to the end of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 4, you’ll have noticed Conrad’s parting voiceover, saying “What have I done?” In case you missed it, the hit Prime Video show has set us up for a full episode from Conrad’s point of view (POV) next week, and it’s going to be a tough one to sit through. Why? Just look at the unhinged level of chaos that’s unfolded over the last few weeks.
We’re only four episodes into the show’s final season, and it isn’t wasting any time dishing out the dirt. The first two episodes kicked off with Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) not managing to graduate on time, then proposing haphazardly to Belly (Lola Tung) without a ring, but has also cheated on her in the interim… twice. Steven (Sean Kaufman) woke up from a coma after being in a car accident on exactly the same day Jeremiah chose to propose, naturally. In episode 3, we saw Conrad (Christopher Briney) find out the engagement news at his own mother’s memorial ceremony.
In short, it’s a tough time to be Conrad, and things aren’t going to get any easier. There’s a big chance we’re about to see what’s happening – or what’s about to happen – from his perspective in The Summer I Turned Pretty in season 3 episode 5, and I’m not sure the fandom is going to survive it.
Conrad’s POV is coming in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 5, and it’s going to break usConrad (Christopher Briney) in The Summer I Turned Pretty. (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)Here’s what we know from The Summer I Turned Pretty in season 3 episode 4. We’ve seen Conrad comforting Belly while she cries and then saying yes to being best man, giving his blessing through gritted teeth. He bakes for her birthday, which he’s remembered off of his own back and staying at his cousins to make her feel more comfortable. In the meantime, Jeremiah left Belly in tears to board a flight to Cabo, which is exactly the same flight Conrad canceled in order to stay by her side.
Even with your eyes closed, there’s no question about who’s coming out on top in this ill-fated love triangle. Well, everyone except for Belly can see this. It’s a rite of teenage passage to make some terrible decisions that could potentially derail your entire life, but dragging Conrad through the emotional mud as collateral damage only gets more difficult to watch as time goes on. But could his POV moment mark a turning point in the Prime Video hit?
CONRAD'S POV NEXT WEEK WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY AFRIAD #TheSummerITurnedPretty pic.twitter.com/BQQipRwGOFJuly 30, 2025
We’re either going to see the build-up to episodes 3 and 4 from Conrad’s eyes, or follow the immediate fallout from episode 4 instead. Conrad’s always had a mountain ahead of him to climb when it comes to his feelings, but dump all of this on his plate and that mountain’s just got a lot bigger. I cannot stand how badly he’s being treated by just about everyone else on the show, and that doesn’t seem likely to stop.
However, a switch in perspective could be a means to an end. We’re assuming that season 3 ends with Belly and Conrad riding off into the sunset, which means a hefty bit of emotional baggage needs to be worked through over the next seven episodes. In order for that to be convincing, the turning point has to be huge in order to make a profound enough difference to everyone involved. Seeing events from Conrad’s POV while he comes to terms with Belly and Jeremiah marrying is just the right kind of straw to break the camel’s back.
Conrad’s going to cry, I’m going to cry and I’d bet good money that you’re going to cry too. The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 4 was possibly the most brutal of the bunch yet, but if it means starting down the path to getting Conrad the justice he deserves, I’m ready to rip my heart open even more by watching him struggling first-hand.
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- The Pixel 10 could support MagSafe-style charging
- This comes from a freshly-leaked image of the phone
- Google may also launch some 'Pixelsnap' accessories
We're all set for the grand unveiling of the Google Pixel 10 series on Wednesday, August 20, and the leaks are continuing. The latest unofficial batch of images posted to the web confirm an earlier rumor: MagSafe for Android is coming.
These images are from veteran tipster Evan Blass, and as well as showing the Pixel 10 from a variety of angles, we can also see a charging puck connected to the back of one of the phones – as if magnetically snapped in place.
That apparently confirms that the Pixel 10 handsets are going to support the Qi2 wireless charging standard, including support for magnets that keep a charger in place. Some previous Android phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25, have adopted Qi2 but without the magnetic snapping part of it.
Of course Apple's own MagSafe tech has led the way here, adding that extra magnetic touch to wireless charging that means chargers can snap into place. We can expect a variety of third-party Android accessories to appear now too.
As previously rumoredpic.twitter.com/SeZIS2PMkHJuly 29, 2025
This isn't the first time we've heard this rumor, and there were whispers of it back in June. Apparently Google is readying some accessories with 'Pixelsnap' branding, which will presumably work a lot like MagSafe chargers do for the iPhone.
Whether or not this tech will make it to other Android phones remains to be seen, but it looks likely. We know that Samsung is certainly thinking about it, but we haven't seen it on any phones yet – including the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.
While MagSafe-style charging is certainly beneficial and convenient for phone users, it does mean magnets need to be embedded into the actual handsets, which can add to the bulk and the cost of these devices.
We'll have to wait and see what Google says about this new technology when the phones are launched. We've previously seen a bunch of leaked renders of the phones, along with the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a that should be launching at the same time.
You might also like- A new report predicts the foldable iPhone will be priced at $1,999
- That’s lower than previous estimates, but would still make it the costliest iPhone ever
- A crease-free screen will be a key selling point, the report claims
Apple will launch its foldable iPhone in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18, and it will be the most expensive iPhone yet with a price tag of $1,999 in the US, according to new report.
Apple’s upcoming foldable is one of the biggest open secrets in the phone industry right now, yet there’s still a fair amount of uncertainty surrounding its release date and price.
Now a report from JP Morgan has revealed what is said to be the company’s target price for the device, which has been dubbed the iPhone Fold.
In a note to clients seen by CNBC, JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee wrote that Apple is targeting a US price of $1,999 for the device. That’s far above the current price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max – Apple’s most expensive iPhone right now, and one of its best – which will set you back a minimum of $1,119.
It’s also a lot more than you’ll pay for a MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599.
Chatterjee’s prediction falls within the range of prices that have recently been rumored for the iPhone Fold. We’ve seen $1,800 suggested at the low end, while the upper estimate currently sits at around $2,500. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 also starts at $1,999, putting it in similarly pricey territory.
Elsewhere in his report, Chatterjee predicts that upgrades to this year’s iPhone 17 lineup will be “fairly limited.” That broadly chimes with what we've heard elsewhere, although recent rumors have predicted a significant camera upgrade for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
Paying a premium(Image credit: Future)As for what customers will get for their money, Chatterjee says the iPhone Fold will have one key advantage over its rivals: a crease-free display. This has been rumored before, and Samsung is also reportedly working on this for its own 2026 foldable.
Chatterjee believes the iPhone Fold will come with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has an 8-inch internal screen and a 6.5-inch outer display.
In terms of millions of units sold, Chatterjee reckons the iPhone Fold will hit the “low teens” in this area by 2027, with that figure rising to the mid-40s by 2029. If correct, that’s a sizable chunk of sales – perhaps indicating that the iPhone Fold’s premium pricing won’t be such a barrier to take-up after all.
You might also like- Meta is internally testing AI-assisted interviews for developers
- It's a closer reflection of real-world developer environments
- Much of Meta's code will soon be AI-written
Meta is reportedly testing AI-enabled coding interviews in which it will allow candidates to use AI tools.
For the time being, it looks like the company could be recruiting internal employees as volunteers for mock interviews to help it develop the shape and format of them, with the initiative revealed via internal communications and verified by 404 Media.
The reality is AI assistants and agents now form part of most workers' workflows – especially developers – so permitting them within the interview stage more closely reflects the real worker environment.
Meta could allow interviewees to use AI tools"Meta is developing a new type of coding interview in which candidates have access to an AI assistant," the post reads.
"This is more representative of the developer environment that our future employees will work in, and also makes LLM-based cheating less effective."
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg already believes AI could eventually write most of Meta's app and AI code, ultimately ending up as mid-level engineers as soon as this year and freeing up humans to focus on more creative tasks. It's a similar story with Microsoft and Google – two companies that claim around one-third of new code is AI-generated.
However, Meta's approach to AI-assisted interviews marks a different direction to other companies in the space. Anthropic currently bans AI use during interviews, presumably seeking genuine worker talent that can be further enhanced by AI.
The benefit of AI-generated code is that it can be produced far more quickly than human-generated code, however its accuracy relies heavily on the quality of the prompts and thorough reviewing is crucial.
"We're obviously focused on using AI to help engineers with their day-to-day work, so it should be no surprise that we're testing how to provide these tools to applicants during interviews," a Meta spokesperson added.
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- Fancy an upgrade? We've listed the best laptops for programming
- Google issues official internal guidance on using AI for coding - and its devs might not be best pleased
- There are scattered reports of Windows 10 PCs being offered a Windows 11 upgrade
- That's despite the fact that these devices don't meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements
- This has happened in the past, too, and it looks like it's a recurring bug – and not an offer you want to take up
There are scattered reports of Windows 10 PCs being offered an upgrade to Windows 11 even though they don't meet the requirements of the newer operating system.
German tech blog Born City brings us this news (via Neowin), with the author of the post describing an incident with their Dell Latitude 7490.
That laptop is running Windows 10 22H2, and keeps being offered an upgrade to Windows 11 every few months, even though it isn't compatible with the latter OS, and the author says they're having to repeatedly dismiss the upgrade prompt.
On top of this, a reader contacted Born City, explaining that their Lenovo IdeaPad, also using version 22H2 of Windows 10, was offered a Windows 11 upgrade despite having TPM 2.0 switched off in the BIOS (this is a hard-and-fast requirement for running Windows 11).
This annoyed the reader, seeing as they had specifically turned off this TPM functionality to avoid getting prompted about an upgrade.
Furthermore, the report points out previous incidents earlier this year, where an IT admin at a company contacted Born City complaining that multiple PCs had been automatically upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 (from Windows 10 22H2) without their knowledge, bypassing all the usual update procedures in place for these business machines.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)What's going on here?The author of the article asks if any other readers have encountered these offers of Windows 11 upgrades that have been piped through to PCs that shouldn't be getting them. Notably, there are no responses saying that other people have, and scouring the usual online forums, I can't find other recent reports of this kind of behavior (on the likes of Reddit, for example).
So, my conclusion at this point is that these are very much scattered incidents, but what's interesting is that they aren't happening for the first time.
In my digging around on Reddit, I found reports from early in 2023, reminding me of a very similar incident whereby Windows 10 devices were offered an upgrade to Windows 11.
Back at the time, Microsoft told us: "These ineligible devices did not meet the minimum requirements to run Window 11. Devices that experienced this issue were not able to complete the upgrade installation process." This was, in fact, a bug that was fixed on the same day.
There are also historic reports of Windows 10 users receiving the Windows 11 upgrade despite having switched off TPM 2.0 (in order to avoid the newer OS, as was the case with the Born City reader mentioned above).
What does all this mean? In my book – and this is just my opinion – this looks to be a recurring bug with Windows 10 (as was previously the case, and seemingly one with a very limited impact this time).
And it's not like there's any shortage of glitches that keep making a comeback with Microsoft's desktop OS – just look at the persisting installation failures with Windows updates across the years.
There are theories around that this could be Microsoft somehow forcing Windows 11 upgrades to help with adoption numbers of the newer operating system, which have spiked recently, which is only to be expected with Windows 10 End of Life now drawing ever closer.
Granted, these theorists could have a point in terms of updates being forced with PCs that have actively tried to avoid them – as in deliberately turning off TPM 2.0, when it's supported on the device – but I remain skeptical even then.
Neowin points out that a recent stealth update for both Windows 10 and 11, which can force-upgrade PCs to a newer version, may have something to do with all this, and that again is a possibility.
Still, I feel this is buggy behavior, even if that's true – Microsoft would surely never intentionally push an upgrade to unsupported hardware. And if the rules have changed regarding Windows 11 compatibility somehow, it would be very remiss of Microsoft not to point this out.
(Image credit: Microsoft)What should you do if you encounter an upgrade prompt on an unsupported PC?So, the question you may have is this point is: what should you do if, by chance, you're offered a Windows 11 upgrade when your Windows 10 PC doesn't meet the system requirements of the newer platform?
The simple answer here is: don't take that upgrade. For starters, the update may fail (especially given that it's possibly being offered in error), as was the case with previous instances of this happening. And even if it was to succeed, there's no telling if things might go awry with your Windows 11 installation in the future.
Just like a fudged upgrade to avoid the requirement of having TPM 2.0 – which can be done – the recommendation remains not to take this route.
If you're worried about the impending death of Windows 10, remember that even though support is going to be officially ending in October 2025, you can now sign up for free updates for another year (all you need to do is sync PC settings to OneDrive, which isn't a big deal I don't think – though your opinion might vary).
That'll give you plenty of breathing space – until October 2026 – to work out what you're going to do, but I really don't think trying to run Windows 11 on an officially unsupported PC is a good idea. Not, at least until Microsoft clarifies that Windows 11's system requirements have somehow been changed, if that's indeed true (and as mentioned I very much doubt it), or of that happens in the future – and I don't see that in my crystal ball, either.
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- Several new rumors point to significant spec bumps for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- The next-gen Samsung flagship could get 60W charging, a thinner design, better cameras, and more
- The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has not been announced, and we don't expect any confirmation either way for these rumors until next year
It seems hard to believe, but it’s been almost half a year since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Since launch, Samsung’s latest top-end handset has continued to impress, holding spots in our lists of the best phones, best camera phones, best Android phones, and more.
Now, a handful of new rumors point to some major upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which could make the best Samsung Galaxy phone even more impressive.
Faster charging (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)The first suggests the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could launch with an increased maximum charging speed of 60W – for reference, the Galaxy S25 Ultra charges at 45W.
That’s according to user erenyilmaz075 on X, who managed to find references to 60W charging in what appears to be the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s unreleased firmware.
Compared to its western contemporaries, the Galaxy S25 Ultra actually charges pretty quickly – we previously reported the iPhone 16 Pro Max had been recorded as drawing 28W during testing by ChargerLAB, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is rated at 45W also.
However, many Android phones now offer very fast charging speeds. OnePlus and Oppo phones benefit from the proprietary SuperVOOC technology, for example, which typically offers speeds of around 80W.
With the Galaxy S26 Ultra expected to inherit the same 5000mAh cell from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I think a bump in power draw will be a worthwhile and valuable addition that should cut charging times significantly.
A thinner frame(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the latest in its line of foldable phones – and it’s clear just by looking at the new handset that Samsung invested heavily in a new thinner design for its most expensive phone.
Another rumor suggests that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be next in line for a slimmed-down redesign.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), notable tipster UniverseIce (formerly known as Ice Universe, and now using the display name PhoneArt) said the Galaxy S26 Ultra would come in at “7.x mm”, down from 8.2mm on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That could imply a reduction of 0.3mm up to 1.2mm.
UniverseIce also shared a render of the Galaxy S26 Ultra which shows the largest three cameras contained in a Galaxy Z Fold 7-style housing, likely because the main body of the phone would be too thin to fit the cameras.
This is what we currently know about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra:The body will become even thinner at 7.x mm, with slightly increased width and height, while weighing a few grams less6.9-inch display featuring CoE depolarizer technology + third-generation anti-reflective… pic.twitter.com/Jp0M8RtQ9mJuly 28, 2025
A new chipset(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, which is as yet unannounced but will likely be the most powerful chipset available for Android users when it launches.
This could mark a split between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and regular Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, both of which are expected to launch with Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chipset.
This was suggested following a firmware deep dive by SamMobile, and backed up by further comments from UniverseIce.
OneUI 8.5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)OneUI 7 launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy S25 Ultra amongst them – but One UI 8 is already here, having launched with the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 folding phones.
According to another report from SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will instead launch with One UI 8.5, an updated version of Samsung’s current-gen software.
This should allow Samsung to release the Galaxy S26 Ultra with some new features without committing to a full version update.
Given the rollout of One UI 7 was staggered across multiple months, Samsung may also be keen to avoid surrounding news of the Galaxy S26 series’ launch with news of a slow software release.
Upgraded cameras (Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)As we’ve previously reported, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to get some upgrades to its camera system.
UniverseIce has again suggested that the main sensor will get a larger aperture, and that the 3x telephoto camera will get a larger sensor. The tipster also hinted at a larger aperture for the 5x telephoto camera.
The upgrade cycle for the Galaxy S series has felt pretty incremental in recent years – but if these rumors hold true the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be a much bigger upgrade than we had expected. Let us know what you want to see from Samsung’s next high-end flagship in the comments below.
You might also like- Sales of Cybertruck have consistently underperformed original forecasts
- Media outlets have placed it among the biggest automotive flops in decades
- Tesla could be planning a smaller electric pick-up to soften the blow
Tesla originally predicted it would sell around 250,000 Cybertrucks every year, with Elon Musk going on to state that the number could increase to 500,000. The reality has been much harsher, with just 20,000 angular, electric trucks sold each year.
There are so many reasons why the vehicle has proven to be a commercial misfire, ranging from Musk’s involvement in politics to the myriad build quality and recall issues Cybertruck has suffered. Not to mention the fact that it looks the way it does.
However, Business Insider reports that Tesla’s VP of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, discussed the possibility of developing a smaller pick-up during a recent interview. "We've definitely been churning in the design studio about what we might do to serve that need for sure,” he revealed.
It is not 100 per cent clear whether Moravy is talking about a smaller version of the Cybertruck, or a more practical, entirely new small pick-up that is likely in response to the recent launch of Slate Auto — the Amazon-backed business founded by Jeff Bezos.
After all, completely ripping up the design of the original Cybertruck and changing most of its defining features would, effectively, be admission that Musk was wrong all along – something that is very unlikely to happen.
Secondly, Moravy also mentions the smaller pick-up in the same breath as the Robotaxi, suggesting that goods and items need to be autonomously hauled around as much as people.
A pick-up for the people(Image credit: Slate Auto)Tesla has been resting on its laurels of late, stalling a number of potential new vehicle lunches that could add further revenue streams and dig the company out of a hole.
A more affordable, $25,000 Tesla was hyped as being the next great hope, while the long overdue Roadster has been kicked around for so long, many of the original investors have lost all trust and interest in the project.
If a smaller Tesla pick-up is to be successful it needs to do all of the things that the Cybertruck can’t – namely, be more affordable and practical to use for everyday tasks, rather than a flashy lifestyle extension.
The pick-up truck market is enormous in North America, but it is also growing rapidly in Asia-Pacific and the BRICS countries. Research by IMARC Group suggests that the market with reach $260 billion by 2033.
The simple fact is, many individuals, families and business use the utilitarian vehicle for both business and pleasure. So, firstly, Tesla’s smaller pick-up will have to be able to perform, haul larger loads and prove reliable over rough ground. The almost invincible Toyota Hilux is testament to this philosophy.
Secondly, it will also have to be efficient, offering the sort of practical range that can handle daily journeys and charge rapidly when the larger road trips are required. Forget monstrous battery packs, 800V electrical architecture and rapid charging should take care of the bigger trips.
While technology has always been part of Tesla’s DNA, it’s not anywhere near as important here.
Harnessing the company’s excellent infotainment system and seamless charging experience will prove a huge selling point, but the company won’t really have to worry about passenger screens, flashy light displays and other such trivial trickery. At the end of the day, a pick-up is a workhorse. Leave the lifestyle stuff to Rivian and keep the costs down.
Finally, Tesla needs to bury the ego and start making cars for the people again. It needs to convince the general public that an electric pick-up truck is a solid investment, dispelling range and EV anxiety in the same way it almost single-handedly converted a large chunk of the car-buying community to electric with the Model S back in 2012.
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- Veo 3 Fast will allow users to create short clips like ads even more quickly
- Image-to-video is coming in public preview from August 2025
- Google wants you to use it for ads and product demos
Google has given its Veo 3 video generation model a major upgrade which should improve its speed considerably.
The new Veo 3 Fast, which has been optimised for speed and rapid iteration, now enables users to create short clips like ads, demos and short films much more quickly.
The model will also support image-to-video in public preview from August 2025 for creating eight-second clips, further reducing the time it takes to generate a video by speeding up the prompt process.
Veo 3 Fast is... fasterWith Veo 3 Fast, users can generate 1080p HD video with native audio generation, including lip-synced speed and fitting sound effects.
In a blog post, Vertex AI Director of Product Management Jason Gelman explained Veo-generated videos are great for creating localized video where companies may need to create the same clip in multiple languages quickly.
With Vertex AI, businesses also benefit from SynthID watermarks and indemnity coverage for full enterprise readiness.
Although the technology is new, Google is already paying close attention to how businesses are using Veo 3 to generate videos in order to further tailor its tools to real-world use cases. The latest upgrade, Veo 3 Fast, is perfect for quickly iterating ad concept variations, turning still product images into demo videos and developing animated explainers or training content efficiently.
With more than 70 million videos created with Google's Veo 3 since May 2025 and more than six million videos created by enterprise customers since its launch on Vertex AI in June, the new model is sure to attract users fast.
Canva has already integrated the Veo 3 model into its app, too. CPO Cameron Adams explained that Canva AI has democratized access to powerful models, and users can access Veo 3's capabilities from within the app's familiar and easy-to-use interface.
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- Blink has launched a new version of its budget-priced video doorbell
- It runs for up to two years without replacing or recharging its batteries
- It's available to pre-order from Amazon now for delivery in August
Blink makes some of the best video doorbells and home security cameras we've tested here at TechRadar, and now it's launched a new version of its budget-friendly doorbell that can run for up to two years without you needing to recharge or replace the batteries.
The new Blink Video Doorbell runs from three AA lithium batteries, plus the Blink Sync Module Core, which also acts as a central hub that connects your Blink devices to one another, and to your home Wi-Fi network.
The new doorbell also has an improved 150-degree field of vision (upgraded from 135 degrees horizontal and 80 degrees vertical), 1:1 video aspect ratio, and HD infrared night vision.
Like the previous model (which we reviewed back in March), the new doorbell also offers person detection if you have a Blink subscription, and can be configured to only send notifications to your phone if a person is identified (and not an animal or object).
The new Blink Video Doorbell is available to pre-order now from Amazon for £59.99 (about $80 / AU$120) for delivery in August. International prices and release dates are yet to be confirmed.
Blink camerasThe new Blink Video Doorbell sits alongside the Blink Outdoor 4 and Blink Mini 2, both of which have earned a place in our roundup of the best home security cameras thanks to their impressive battery lives and affordable price tags.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Blink)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Blink)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Blink)If you want advanced features like person detection, cloud storage, and photo capture, Blink subscription plans start at $3 / £2.50 / AU$4.95 per month for one device, or $10 / £8 / AU$15 per month for unlimited devices.
For more details, take a look at our full Blink Mini 2 review and Blink Outdoor 4 review.
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