News

• Streaming giant Netflix has revealed that 300 movies and shows used generative AI in 2026
• The news was shared in a shareholder letter, obtained by the website Kotaku
• Generative AI was used to “enhance crowds, historical battle sequences, and worldbuilding establishing shots.”

Netflix has recently admitted to using AI tools in a huge number of its movies and shows, with the shocking announcement delivered in its shareholder letter on July 16.

According to Kotaku, which obtained the shareholder letter, Netflix says that AI is now fully integrated into many different projects and is used from the concept stage through pre-visualization, filming, and post-production.

They also revealed that generative AI was mostly used in post-production across the 300 shows and movies using it in 2026.

“We are increasingly leveraging these tools to deliver higher quality output more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional methods,” Netflix said in the shareholder letter. “In some cases, productions would have had to leave out key shots and sequences in the absence of GenAI technology.”

Using The American Experiment as an example, Netflix added that using generative AI tools “enhanced crowds, historical battle sequences, and worldbuilding establishing shots.”

It's not just the best streaming service's shows that are affected either, as AI is also working its way into the app itself, with Netflix explaining that it will use LLMs and AI to “improve title discovery” and “better understand member preferences.”

Netflix has made a lot of poor decisions in recent months. Recently, my colleague Rowan Davies criticized the streamer for chasing YouTube content, saying he was worried they don't actually care about the future of their shows and movies.

I'm inclined to agree, too, as the streaming service has a track record of cancelling its shows. Just recently, The Boroughs was canceled after one season, and it's not the first time they've abandoned shows early on.

They have also used an AI-generated voice of the late actor Gene Wilder in a new reality show, which our editor at large, Lance Ulanoff, said was "too far".

This, teamed with the most recent AI announcement, has filled me with despair, and I'm worried a lot of my favorite Netflix shows aren't getting the love they deserve.

This decision will no doubt divide fans, but this is the kind of thing that's going to make me turn away from Netflix and prioritize other streaming services instead. It feels like Netflix is falling out of love with its shows, and I'm starting to do the same.

• Surfshark adds thousands of servers to its FastTrack optimisation feature
• The technology now spans over 2.000 servers
• The VPN is gathering user feedback for further expansion

It was August 2025 when Surfshark told TechRadar that it would expand its custom-built FastTrack technology — its feature designed to optimise VPN traffic routing — and we’re pleased to confirm that it has kept its word.

In a recent post shared on X, Surfshark announced that it has upgraded its infrastructure, making the technology available on more than half of its servers across all continents.

In practical terms, this means that FastTrack, which promises speeds 70% faster than even the best VPNs, is now available on around 50% of its current network of 4.500 servers. If you’re a user, chances are it’s already available in your city too; just check for the FastTrack icon in the server list to find out.

FastTrack is an optimization feature that Surfshark uses on part of its server network.

Rather than simply routing the user via a single virtual private network (VPN) path to connect to a server, FastTrack's algorithm calculates the actual latency values detected within its network to identify the fastest route to that specific VPN server.

Specifically, globally distributed probes run speed tests, measure latency, and save the results to determine the best-performing route for a user located in a specific country who needs to access a specific VPN location.

The system differs from traditional systems, where a server establishes a direct connection with the VPN server, and traffic follows the available route. With FastTrack, all network nodes are constantly monitored. Something that allows the system to continuously select the optimal connection.

FastTrack update: started with 3 locations last year, now covers more than half of our server network across all continents.Up to 70% faster VPN speeds on macOS. Real-time route optimization, fully automatic.Look for the FastTrack icon in your server list.July 16, 2026

Karolis Kaciulis, Leading System Engineer at Surfshark, claims these calculations optimise routes regardless of their geographical location. "For example, if a longer path can actually enhance performance due to better conditions, as it uses more advanced routers or higher-capacity cables, FastTrack will select it."

While the feature was initially limited to just three servers (Sydney, Seattle, and Vancouver), Surfshark has now converted more than 2.000 of its exit nodes to FastTrack, allowing users to connect to a much wider range of new servers that can benefit from the same speed boost.

The expansion seems almost a natural progression and follows the VPN provider’s announcement in October 2025 regarding a massive expansion — both in quantity and quality — of its global server network.

Last year, Surfshark indeed released another innovative self-healing VPN tool, Everlink. The feature aims to ensure connection stability even in the event of serious malfunctions or service interruptions.

Of course, speed is obviously the main advantage of FastTrack, but using FastTrack also brings additional benefits, Surfshark claims.

For example, it ensures a significant reduction in routing errors, as one of the key features of Nexus — Surfshark’s routing infrastructure — is precisely its redundancy.

Indeed, as Nexus offers multiple routes within the network, if one route encounters a problem, traffic can be automatically redirected via another available route, thereby helping to prevent interruptions or slowdowns.

Surfshark also claims that FastTrack improves the VPN service overall, as it operates on a different data center network from traditional ISPs, naturally reducing the likelihood of throttling or various network limitations.

So, are there any drawbacks to this unique technology? Probably the most pressing issue currently is that it is only available on Surfshark’s VPN app for Mac and iOS platforms. These limitations have already prompted some users online to call for an Android version as well.

"We are connecting user feedback to help determine where to expand next," a Surfshark spokesperson told TechRadar, fuelling hopes that new updates are already on the way.

The RugOne Xlink 7 wants to solve an old problem in a new way. Traditional walkie-talkies are brilliant until you walk out of range. Hills block them. Buildings block them. Distance blocks them. The Xlink 7 sidesteps all of that by using 4G instead of short-range radio, so two or three people can stay in touch across a city, a country, or, in theory, the whole planet, as long as there's signal.

That idea alone makes it worth a look. Add a genuinely tough build, IP68 and IP69K rated, plus MIL STD 810H certification, and you have a device that will survive rain, dust, a drop, or a dunking, all while weighing just 84g. It comes loaded with sensible extras too. A wireless PTT (push-to-talk) remote means you never have to fumble for the unit itself while riding or climbing. An emergency SOS mode, backed by GPS, GLONASS and Beidou positioning, can sound an alarm and share your live location with five quick presses. There's even a basic AI assistant for weather checks and settings, and a noise cancellation system tuned for wind and speed.

None of that comes without trade-offs, though. The biggest one is that this is a cellular device, not a true radio, so it lives and dies by 4G coverage. Head somewhere genuinely remote, deep countryside, mountains, open water, and it becomes a very expensive paperweight. A proper VHF or UHF handset, or a satellite communicator, will keep working exactly where the Xlink 7 cannot. There's no screen either, so every bit of feedback comes through LED colours and beeps, which takes some getting used to. Group calls are capped at three people and thirty minutes, which will frustrate anyone hoping to coordinate a larger crew.

So who is this for? Cyclists, hikers, skiers and runners who mostly stay within reach of a network but want a proper safety net and a simple way to stay in touch with a partner or small group. It might also work for parents keeping tabs on older kids, but surely they’d have phones. It could be an easy panic button for lone workers, as long as they’re not underground.

It's less convincing for anyone heading truly off-grid, where a satellite device or traditional radio still makes more sense, as some of the best rugged phones I've tested already have. Think of the Xlink 7 as a rugged companion for populated wilderness rather than true remoteness, and it starts to make more sense.

• How much does it cost? $159
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from RugOne or via an online retailer

The RugOne Xlink 7 is available direct from RugOne's global store, on Amazon.com for $159.99, and on Amazon.co.uk for $139.99.

Unless I’m mistaken, the RugOne Xlink 7 launched its Kickstarter campaign in June 2026, with a Super Early Bird duo pack priced from $159.99 against a stated standard retail of $299.98 for the same pack, a 47 per cent discount.

Coverage on a popular news site said it has cleared the Engineering Verification and Design Verification stages and was, at the time of writing, running final Production Validation Test builds ahead of mass shipping from August 2026. But that plan evidently wasn’t correct or got changed, because it's already available to buy now.

To be crystal clear, I’m not a fan of companies that don’t need the money running Kickstarter campaigns as marketing exercises, and the way that this one was able to move from announcement to product and retail in a matter of weeks gives the true picture away. That reality being the Xlink 7 was probably finished and in production even before the Kickstarter ever began.

In the bundle that most purchasers will choose, they get a SIM card that works in 41 countries, and that will work for a year. No price has yet been revealed for extending the SIM contract at this time, but you can just buy a data-only SIM for your country and use that instead.

In most countries, this would be a no-brainer based on cost, but if you live in a region where mobile providers must approve each device that connects, it might be an issue.

Depending on how you intend to use this hardware, the price might be seen as competitive or excessive.

Compared to a proper satellite-based communicator, like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 ($509.99), it might seem a bargain. But the Garmin will work in practically any geographic location, and doesn’t need cell service.

Not needing a cell service or a SIM card, Motorola makes an extensive range of walkie-talkies, like the Motorola Solutions Talkabout T475 Extreme. A two-pack of those is only $94.99, and they use FRS radio frequencies, can receive NOAA weather alerts and will work for up to 12 hours on a charge.

There are dozens of brands selling walkie-talkie designs, some using Mesh technology that generally undercut the RugOne Xlink 7, typically offering two handsets for less than the price of one Xlink 7.

But there is an even cheaper choice, and that’s to use Zello on your existing smartphone, which costs precisely nothing. As they say, competing with zero isn’t easy.

Overall, there are some cute features on the RugOne Xlink 7 that might attract some customers, but since they don’t have a fallback technology when there is no 4G service, they seem overpriced.

• Value score: 3/5

Product

RugOne Xlink 7

Dimensions

63.6 x 51.7 x 22.95mm

Weight

84g

Build

Plastic body with metal buttons and rubber seals

Durability

IP68 (1.5m for up to 30 minutes) and IP69K under IEC 60529, MIL STD 810H, operating range -30C to 55C

Display

None. Status is shown via seven front LEDs plus audio tones

Chipset

ASR1609S, Cortex R5 at 614MHz

Memory

8MB PSRAM, 8MB ROM

Network

4G LTE, nanoSIM. FDD LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28A/28B/66, TDD LTE bands 34/38/39/40/41

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.2

Positioning

GPS, GLONASS and Beidou

Battery

1,050mAh typical / 1,020mAh rated Li Po, USB Type C charging at 5V 0.5A

Battery life (claimed)

Up to 87 hours standby, 24 hours typical use, 10 hours continuous talk

Calling

Full duplex hands-free voice for up to 3 simultaneous users, 10-minute default call length, 30-minute maximum

AI features

On-device AI voice assistant for Q&A and settings, plus chip and AI-based noise cancellation rated to a peak of 55dB reduction

Safety

Emergency SOS via five rapid presses on the action button, triggers a siren, calls emergency contacts, and shares live GPS location

Extras

Built-in TorchX flashlight, wireless Bluetooth push-to-talk remote ring, dedicated group set-up button

App

RugOne Xlink app for iOS and Android, required to activate the device

In the box

Xlink 7 unit, USB-C to USB-C cable, pre-installed screen film, wireless PTT remote ring, long and short Velcro straps, sports armband, magnetic back clip, lanyard, SIM card (Bundle version only), manual and warranty card

• Tough and tiny
• Lots of buttons
• A box full of accessories

United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Vatican City, San Marino, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus.

The Xlink 7 is a small, octagonal puck that RugOne compares to a chunky earbud case. At 84g and just under 64mm tall, it disappears onto a backpack strap or handlebar far more easily than a traditional VHF or UHF radio ever could. The body mixes plastic with rubber seals and metal buttons, and the whole thing carries an IP68 rating for a 1.5 metre dunking and an IP69K rating against pressure washing, on top of MIL STD 810H certification. That is a serious durability claim for a device this size, and on paper, that puts the Xlink 7 ahead of most consumer electronics in this price bracket.

There is no screen. Every status update, battery level, signal state, Bluetooth pairing, comes through a bank of seven LEDs and a set of audio tones. That keeps the design simple and the waterproofing easier to guarantee, but it also means a genuine learning curve before all those beeps and colours become second nature.

The one that most owners might easily recall is the built-in AI, as even at the lowest volume settings, it shouts information at you like a drill sergeant. Maybe on a windswept hillside or next to a roaring rapids, this might be good, but in less noisy spaces, it seems excessive and bludgeoning.

Since there is no screen, all the modes and features of the RugOne Xlink 7 are activated using a series of buttons, and there are some simple back-lit icons to provide basic feedback. These tell you if a voice call is active, Bluetooth is being used, battery status, the device is on, volume and mute, and mobile signal strength. But most of these are superfluous, since if you change the volume, for example, the unit will shout at you the current volume setting.

Buttons are provided for powering on, AI, Group functionality and initiating or answering calls.

A single button activates an on-device AI assistant for simple Q&A, weather checks, and device settings, and RugOne pairs a dedicated audio chip with an AI noise-reduction algorithm rated at a peak of 55dB, tuned for conditions up to 40km/h on skis or 30km/h on a bike, according to RugOne. But this technology appears to be deactivated when you’re not on skis or a bike, when you get put on full audio blast anyway.

Rubber plugs cover both the SIM card slot and the USB port, which made me wonder why they weren’t together under a single plug. And, the other feature worth mentioning is that there is a TorchX flashlight, which might become useful if you’ve not reached your basecamp before nightfall.

For those wondering how you configure some of the more complicated aspects, that’s all done through a smartphone app. So, if you want to change those, you’ll need to bring a smartphone, which somewhat undermines the function of the RugOne Xlink 7.

One impressive detail about this device is all the supporting hardware that comes in the box, which includes long and short Velcro straps, a sports armband, a magnetic belt clip, a lanyard and a Bluetooth-connected talk button.

Design score: 3.5/5

• Multi-person communication
• ASR1609S SoC
• 1,050mAh cell battery

Available in ‘Sports Black’ or ‘Sand Dune’, the RugOne Xlink 7 has some interesting twists on the normal 4G communication model.

These include the ability to have group conversations between three Xlink 7, with each call limited to 10 minutes, or with three connected up to 30 minutes.

Where I’m slightly confused is that in some literature, three users are mentioned, and in others, up to five people can talk. But since I only received two of these to test, I can ascertain which number is correct.

That said, the idea of five people on the same line just sounds like a recipe to step on other people's speaking, so if it only supports three people, it might be more practical.

The platform that this was built on is the ASR1609S, a cost-effective, high-performance 4G LTE IoT baseband processor manufactured by ASR Microelectronics.

This SoC is a single ARM Cortex-R5 core running at 614 MHz, integrating a modem, Bluetooth 5.2, GNSS, power management, 8GB PSRAM, and 8GB Flash in a single assembly.

Positioning comes from a combination of GPS, GLONASS and Beidou, and an emergency SOS mode is triggered by five rapid presses of the action button. That sounds like a loud siren to alert others nearby, automatically calls pre-set emergency contacts and shares a live location through the companion app.

For hikers, cyclists and lone workers, this is arguably a bigger selling point than the group calling itself. But this again assumes that everyone wearing one of these devices is also conveniently carrying their phone.

RugOne quotes up to 87 hours of standby, 24 hours of typical use, or 10 hours of continuous talk time from the 1,050mAh cell. Those are manufacturer figures rather than independently measured ones, and if you are on the edge of cell service, you might find the battery wears out faster than expected.

I can’t be overly critical of the hardware, since it was made to both fit inside the limited confines of the RugOne Xlink 7 but also to do a specific job that isn’t as general as you might expect from a Smartphone SoC.

But, this SoC didn’t include the technology for PTT-type communications without 4G, which is unfortunate, since most mobile phones can do that trick, and would last longer on battery than the Xlink 7 can.

• Hardware score: 3/5

The RugOne Xlink 7 is a difficult call, since I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with the hardware or the design, except possibly how shouty the AI is.

That said, I strongly suspect that this design was originally intended to support conventional or mesh wireless technology alongside 4G functionality, until someone realised that might affect future income from SIM sales.

What we ended up with is a walkie-talkie that’s useless when you’re away from cell service, which is problematic. Given that lots of cheaper devices will work anywhere without 4G, it brings into question whether the RugOne Xlink 7 is the right product for you.

While I accept that most walkie-talkies can’t link two people on different continents, most can connect those people 100M apart on a mountain or in a jungle, and that’s not a guarantee with this hardware.

RugOne need to put Zello-compatible wireless in the Xlink 8, and make the price significantly more competitive.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Affordable, but compared with other walkie-talkies, it is on the pricey side.

3/5

Design

A compact and rugged puck that can be carried in numerous ways

3.5/5

Hardware

Efficient SoC and 1,050mAh battery, but needs 4G network to talk

3/5

Overall

Not suitable for true off-grid use

3.5/5

You like to walk and talk
With up to three-person communication, this device could be useful for those who work together but are physically separated. Mounted on the armband, using the belt clip or lanyard makes this more easily accessible than a phone.

You might need help quickly
There are certain occupations where it's possible to run into trouble and need assistance quickly, and the ability of this device to send out an alert with your exact position could be a lifesaver. But only if you can push the SOS button five times to summon help.

You like to walk and talk
With up to three-person communication, this device could be useful for those who work together but are physically separated. Mounted on the armband, using the belt clip or lanyard makes this more easily accessible than a phone.

You might need help quickly
There are certain occupations where it's possible to run into trouble and need assistance quickly, and the ability of this device to send out an alert with your exact position could be a lifesaver. But only if you can push the SOS button five times to summon help.

For more ruggedized devices, we've reviewed the best rugged tablets, the best rugged laptops, and the best rugged hard drives

• A new Marvel's Wolverine trailer has been swarmed by angry PlayStation fans
• Users are sharing their disdain for Sony's decision to end physical disc production
• Many are sharing how glad they are that Wolverine will be available on disc

PlayStation fans angry with Sony's decision to end physical disc production have descended on the latest Marvel's Wolverine to make their thoughts known.

Insomniac Games just released a new cinematic trailer for the upcoming Marvel superhero game titled 'Ain't No Hero' ahead of the game's launch on September 15.

It looks awesome, but if you think fans are having a healthy discussion about how cool the game looks in the comment section, you'd be dead wrong.

As of writing, the video has over 8,000 comments, and the vast majority are from fans who aren't backing down from their efforts to make PlayStation reverse its decision to retire physical discs in 2028.

"You know who isn’t the hero? The killer of physical," reads the top comment, which has over 12,000 likes.

"Wolverine was really getting PHYSICAL in this trailer, he has such a DISCtinct presence," one user said, with another writing, "Wolverine's treasured photograph demonstrates the importance of physical media."

Thankfully, Marvel's Wolverine will be getting a physical copy at launch, so fans won't have to worry about that. The only games that will be affected are titles launching from January 2028 onwards, and fans are letting PlayStation know how they feel about it.

"Can't wait for my DISC copy to come in," one comment reads, followed by numerous more of the same variety, like, "Can't wait for my PHYSICAL COPY," and "Looking forward to getting a PHYSICAL edition."

Since sharing the announcement earlier this month, Sony has been notably quiet in the face of the backlash. To urge the company to reverse its decision, fans have also created a petition, which now has over 326,000 signatures.

According to analysts, despite pushback from fans, the PlayStation maker won't reverse its decision because "digital is just too lucrative."