News

• Windows 11's Copilot app just got an update for testers
• This introduces a powerful new natural language-based search
• There are also some useful changes for the app's home page

Windows 11's Copilot app is getting a deeper and more powerful search functionality, and more besides – although this is only in testing for now.

The Verge reports that Microsoft is rolling out an update for the Copilot app to Windows Insiders (those running test versions of Windows 11) who have Copilot+ PCs.

Those devices have the necessary NPU to drive this new AI search, which allows you to use natural language in queries, and will dive into files to find results for you.

So, as Microsoft points out, you can ask a conversational query such as 'find the file with the tiramisu recipe' and the Copilot app will hunt through the files on your PC to locate it. Or similarly, you could ask 'find pictures of my dog on the beach' and the AI will pick out those images specifically. Microsoft calls this functionality a 'semantic file search'.

Microsoft is also bringing in a rejigged home page for the Copilot app which surfaces recently used files, apps, and conversations, a move designed to make it easy for you to jump back into whatever you were doing previously.

You can also click on those recently-used files to query them with Copilot, or elect to get help with apps via a specific 'guided help' pane – this fires up a Copilot Vision session to guide you through said app.

Testers who want to give the new Copilot app a whirl should grab the latest update from the Microsoft Store in Windows 11.

Your immediate concern here may be privacy, and Microsoft has been quick to allay any fears along those lines in its blog post introducing these changes. The company makes it clear that Copilot surfaces recently-used files simply via the standard 'recent' folder that Windows 11 maintains – so the AI app isn't digging into your system any more deeply than the records which the OS keeps itself.

Microsoft clarifies that: "Copilot doesn't scan your entire system or upload anything automatically." However, when you're directly querying a file with Copilot, in that case it is uploaded for processing, but "nothing is shared unless you explicitly do so".

As for the semantic file-search capability, I assume that it functions similarly to the AI-supercharging of Windows 11's search itself on Copilot+ PCs (when Microsoft introduced natural language queries via the search box on the taskbar).

Microsoft seemingly wants to beef up search with AI across the board, and so on Copilot+ PCs we have that powered-up Windows 11 search, as well as Recall (a screenshot-based AI search leveraging the activity on your PC), and now an improved natural language search within the Copilot app itself.

What's the end game with pushing AI in search so strongly? Well, search is an obvious use case for AI, and I'd speculate that eventually, Copilot will take over all Windows search duties entirely.

There will be no basic Windows search at all, in other words – if you want to find stuff on your PC, you'll ask Copilot, end of story. And hopefully it'll complete the search without showing you 15 related 'suggestions' or 'recommendations' about what else you might need to complete whatever task the AI thinks you're carrying out.

• Latest Windows 11 update packs a great new feature - but I hope I never have to use it
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In recent years, Honor has partnered with the likes of Moschino, Porsche Design, and Studio Harcourt on some of the best Honor phones, but the brand’s latest fashion-forward collaboration is undoubtedly its sparkliest yet.

Designed by the titular fashion designer, the Honor Magic V Flip 2 Jimmy Choo edition features a shimmering, glitter-coated rear panel and a metallic hinge embossed with Choo’s full name and academic title (that’s Professor Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat OBE to you).

Honor says the phone’s limited edition color evokes “crushed stardust scattered across a deep blue sea,” which is perhaps the most celestial description of a smartphone I’ve ever heard. But beyond its sparkles, the China-only V Flip 2 is a genuinely impressive rival to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 – for multiple reasons.

On the outside, it boasts a familiar 4-inch OLED cover display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is the same sort of cover screen you’ll find on both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. Honor’s flip phone, though, gets a class-leading IP58 resistance rating, which means it’s slightly more resistant to dust than those two big-name models.

On the inside, the V Flip 2 sports what Honor describes as “the most invisible crease of any flip phone on the market right now,” and in our brief hands-on time with the device, this crease is indeed barely noticeable. It sits between a 6.82-inch OLED display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a rival-beating peak brightness of 5,000 nits.

In terms of performance, Honor’s latest foldable is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and it ships with up to 16GB of RAM, which puts it in-between the latest Samsung and Motorola flip phones on the power scale (the former uses an Exynos chipset and has a lower RAM capacity, while the latter uses the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and the same 16GB of RAM).

The V Flip 2 does, however, boast an amighty 5,500mAh battery, which is the largest ever in a clamshell foldable at the time of writing.

Honor’s latest foldable also boasts some pretty impressive cameras: you’ll get a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, the first of which is unheard of in the flip foldable category.

So, even if the sparkly Jimmy Choo-ness of the Magic V Flip 2 isn't for you, it's hard to deny the phone's on-paper credentials. Honor has somehow managed to squeeze a class-leading crease, battery, camera, and resistance rating into its latest foldable, and while it’s not available for purchase outside of China, it certainly takes the fight to the best foldable phones on this side of the pond.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: the flip phone that makes me wish every phone was a flip phone
• Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 review: the flip phone that beats your excuses for not buying a flip phone
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: price, cameras, upgrades, and everything you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• I tested DJI’s impressive first 360 camera, but Insta360 still has the edge
• Insta360's Antigravity A1 drone has landed – here are 5 things you need to know about the world’s first 360 drone
• The DJI Osmo Nano is the latest DJI action camera to leak ahead of its official release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• The Google Pixel Watch 4 is here – these are the 4 new features I'm most excited about
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• JBL has launched three new models in its Quantum headset series
• JBL Quantum 950, JBL Quantum 650, and JBL Quantum 250 are now available for purchase
• The upgraded headsets offer pro-grade audio technology, next-level comfort, an improved microphone, and more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 from the Sekiro anime to the new Ghost of Yotei mode
• New Resident Evil Requiem gameplay teaser solidifies it as my most anticipated game of 2026 so far
• The Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance at Opening Night Live 2025 was disappointing, but thankfully there's more information on the way

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, August 21 (game #1305).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

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

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

• T

• S

• T

• B

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

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

• TROOP
• SCOPE
• TORSO
• BRINY

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

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

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

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

• BIOME
• ELEGY
• BLUFF
• TERSE

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