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One of the world's largest mobile networks is launching a free parental control app - but only in this one country - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 02:03
  • Parental concerns over screen time grow as kids spend four hours online during the summer holidays
  • The Secure Net update only helps UK families, despite Vodafone operating in over 20 countries
  • Unstructured screen time rises during school breaks, sparking fresh demand for digital boundaries at home

As the summer holidays bring more freedom and fewer routines, children are spending much more time online, but new research has warned on the risks this could bring.

A report from VodafoneThree revealed screen time among 8 to 17-year-olds has risen to as much as four hours of unstructured use per day, a 42% increase compared to during the school term.

While some of this time is spent staying in touch with friends or occupying long journeys, nearly two-thirds (65%) of UK parents have expressed concern over the digital habits of their kids during school breaks and the overall impact on them.

Digital safeguards for kids arrive, but not for everyone

In response, VodafoneThree plans to release a major update to its Secure Net app offering enhanced parental control features designed to help families manage device use more easily.

“Unstructured screen time tends to naturally rise during the summer holidays, so we’ve teamed up with Digital Awareness UK to offer practical, parent-friendly guidance,” said Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree.

“Combined with our Secure Net service, which offers the most comprehensive parental controls of any major UK network, families can feel more confident navigating the digital world together and enjoy a safer, more balanced summer break.”

The Secure Net app, which currently offers basic filtering and protection, will soon allow UK parents to manage both mobile and home broadband connections through a single interface.

Its goal is to create a simpler way for families to limit access to inappropriate content, reduce distractions, and encourage healthier routines.

The app features include “Pause the Internet,” “Bedtime Mode,” content filters, and a “Focus Time” setting that blocks certain apps during study periods.

While VodafoneThree describes the tool as offering the most complete set of parental controls among major UK networks, it is not a substitute for other forms of digital protection.

The app does not include antivirus or ransomware protection, and its main function is to control access rather than detect threats.

Families hoping to improve overall digital safety may still need separate software to protect against malware or more sophisticated attacks.

However, despite its global reach, the company is making the updated app available only to its UK customers at no additional cost.

This raises questions, particularly given the universal nature of the issues involved.

Parents across parent company Vodafone's many markets face similar concerns about screen time, harmful content, and lack of oversight, but they are left out for now.

"We know that the summer holidays can be a challenging time. This can't always be avoided, but without structure, it can lead to greater exposure to online harms, mental health effects, and unhealthy tech habits that are difficult to undo,” said Emma Robertson, CEO of Digital Awareness UK.

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Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off: Everything we know about the sequel series to Yellowstone on Paramount+ - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 04:00
Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: key information

- The Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off was first announced in December 2024

- It was rumored to be called Dutton Ranch, but Rip Wheeler actor Cole Hauser confirmed that wouldn’t be the title

- It will be set in the present day, and will explore the Dutton’s lives after the events in season 5

- Other actors from Yellowstone are likely to appear in it, including Finn Little, who plays Carter

- It will share “the most DNA with Yellowstone” than any of the (many!) other planned spin-offs

- The release date has been suggested for late 2025, but Paramount+ have yet to confirm this

The Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off series from the Yellowstone universe is officially underway and while it's still very early days, we do know some crucial details about what the new Paramount+ series might look like.

You should never underestimate the pull of a good Western: and the TV series Yellowstone has totally proved this. Launching without much fanfare on the Paramount Network back in June 2018 (HBO turned it down initially) the Kevin Costner-fronted show steadily drew in a bigger and bigger audience, as the series – which covered life in and around a ranch in Yellowstone, Montana – went out on a high in the final series five in 2024 with a viewership of more than 12 million people.

But the people, like the ranchers, wanted more. And spin-offs of the Dutton family were hastily assembled by creators Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. First were the prequels, 1883 and 1923, then the sequels and other Dutton-adjacent series (deep breath): The Madison (due out in 2025), Y: Marshalls, 1944, 6666 and, perhaps the most eagerly awaited of all the new series in the Yellowstone universe, a show that some have said will be called Dutton Ranch. But, hold fire! says Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, as he told Fox News that: “First of all, it's not [called] Dutton Ranch. That's not the name of it.”

So, what do we know about the spin-off show that will see Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler? Here’s everything you need to know about the neo-Western series so far, including cast members, potential plot and expected release date:

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: release date predictions

It's a return to Dutton Ranch for Beth and Rip. (Image credit: Paramount+)

News first came out off a spin-off in December 2024 when Deadline reported: “Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind Yellowstone and its ever-expanding universe, is working on the creative for the new show, which will likely feature other cast members from the mothership series alongside Reilly and Hauser.”

Since then, the most recent word is, according to Bloomberg, that this particular show is being pegged for a Fall launch in 2025, which would make this a very quick turnaround. Paramount+ are yet to confirm a release date, but we’ll update this piece as soon as we find out.

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: is there a trailer yet?

Fan favourite Beth smokes a cigarette to kill time while waiting for the trailer. (Image credit: Paramount+)

No, there’s nothing as yet – we’ll let you know as soon as anything drops.

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: who is in the cast?

Finn Little will be making a return to the bullring as Carter. (Image credit: Paramount+)

Excitingly for the fans who weren’t ready for Yellowstone to finish after five seasons, Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser will be back in their legendary roles of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, respectively. It’s been suggested by several publications that other key characters from Yellowstone could also make a return, but so far, the only person confirmed is Finn Little who plays Carter.

Carter arrived as a “troubled teen” in season four, who met Beth in hospital, when both their fathers were dying. After Carter’s dad dies of a drug addiction, Beth and Rip become Carter’s guardians, and he comes to live and work with them on their ranch. Beth is unable to have children and doesn’t see herself as maternal, yet she and Rip form a bond with Carter, and come to view him as family.

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: the potential plot

The series will pick up after the events of Yellowstone season 5 (Image credit: Paramount+)

Well, it’s a series that will obviously have Beth and Rip at the heart of the action. At the end of season 5 of Yellowstone (spoilers ahead, if you’re not up to date yet) the Dutton Ranch is no more, after being sold to the Broken Rock Reservation, allowing the land to be preserved as a protected reservation.

Beth’s father, John Dutton III, was murdered by a contract killer (by a gunshot to the head) hired by Jamie Dutton and Sarah Atwood, but it was staged to look like suicide. In the season’s finale, Beth, who vowed revenge for her dad’s death, stabs Jamie.

According to Deadline, the spin-off is likely to pick up where season 5 ended. It will be “led by Yellowstone characters, played by the same actors in the same present-day time frame; the new offshoot shares the most DNA with the mothership of any shows in the Yellowstone universe to date.”

Hauser is remaining tight-lipped about the plot, also telling Fox News in May 2025: "We can expect the same that we've been doing for the last seven years. Kelly and I are going and working our [expletive] off trying to create something special.”

Meanwhile, he told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2025: “Kelly and I, we're focused on [Rip and Beth's] relationship and our love together, and what we're going to get [them] into. I'm excited just like everybody else. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Hopefully, we'll start seeing stuff soon.” We’d hope so too, if the series is to be released by the end of the year.

What are the other spin-offs, sequels and prequels of Yellowstone that we know about?

The Beth and Rip series will be set in the present day. (Image credit: Paramount+)

There will be two other offshoots soon joining the Beth and Rip series. The Madison (appearing on Paramount+), led by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, and Y: Marshals (on CBS) which will star Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, and which will be released in early 2026.

Alongside this, there are two more series in the Yellowstone universe: 1944 (set during World War II and will explore the Dutton family's experiences during that era) and 6666 (about another ranch, Four Sixes, which also appears in Yellowstone and will be about the characters who live on it) which have been previously announced as “in development”.

'Apple must do this, Apple will do this' – Tim Cook rallies staff in face of AI delays - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 05:30
  • Tim Cook has been speaking at an all-hands meeting
  • Cook promised Apple has a bright AI future
  • There are some "amazing" products in the pipeline

The delays and issues around Apple Intelligence have been well documented, but Apple CEO Tim Cook says his company isn't giving up an AI – and in fact has said the AI market is "ours to grab" in a recent all-hands meeting.

As per the usually reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the hour-long meeting was held right after Apple's most recent earnings call, and both Tim Cook and senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi were apparently upbeat about Apple's AI future.

"Apple must do this," Cook apparently said on AI. "Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab." The CEO reportedly went on to say that while Apple hasn't always been first in product categories, it's usually able to catch up and surpass its rivals.

According to Gurman, Cook also encouraged Apple employees to use more AI in their day-to-day work, to avoid being "left behind" in the field. The CEO is predicting AI will be bigger than smartphones, apps, and the internet.

'A much bigger upgrade'

Apple Intelligence has had its issues (Image credit: Apple)

As for Federighi, he reportedly told staff that Apple was overcoming the initial challenges it had faced with adding Apple Intelligence on top of Siri. Rather than merging two systems, engineers are now working on building an entirely new architecture.

"The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of Siri has given us the results we needed," said the exec. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned."

Apple has clearly rushed its AI efforts in an attempt to catch up to the likes of OpenAI and Google – having to pull adverts promising features that have yet to materialize – but it would appear that Apple remains fully committed to the technology.

The all-hands meeting is said to have covered other topics including Apple TV+, AirPods, and the impact of regulations. Cook also mentioned that there's an "amazing" series of Apple products in the pipeline – which may include a folding iPhone.

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Security expert warns: don't list defense work on LinkedIn - or you could be at risk of getting hacked - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 06:22
  • Experts warned to maybe not list all of their experience online
  • Doing so could open them up to attacks and scams
  • LinkedIn might be a good place to advertise yourself - but have some limits

A top security experts has warned defence employees that listing their work on employment sites such as LinkedIn has created a ‘cumulative and comprehensive set of information, people and opportunities for foreign powers to target and exploit.’

Mike Burgees, the Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said it has seen nation states use, ‘even more sophisticated and difficult to detect methods’ in their attempts to unlawfully obtain sensitive information.

Whilst this may seem like common sense, ASIO has identified over 100 individuals using job sites such as LinkedIn to talk about projects they worked on, and some posting specifications and functionality on ‘open discussion forums’.

The true cost

This has direct consequences for national security, and the mistakes add up. A report quoted by Burgees identifies an overall cost of over AU$12 billion dollars in just one year lost to espionage - highlighting its impact.

These are conservative estimates too, Burgees points out, and the, ‘most serious, significant and cascading costs of espionage are not included in the 12.5 billion dollar figure’.

That means that anything without a direct calculable financial impact, like potential loss of ‘ strategic advantage, sovereign decision-making and warfighting capacity’, all of which hold ‘immense value’ are not included in the calculation.

Of course, foreign adversaries have always targeted anyone who holds valuable information of almost all kinds, and have used much more unconventional methods in the past.

That being said, social media sites in which colleagues follow and interact with each other whilst openly talking about their current professional projects does provide spooks with a cheat-sheet of target information.

These can have serious consequences for governments and companies, Burgees warned, noted how, "ust last year, an Australian tech company went into voluntary administration after one of its investors made a series of decisions that made no commercial sense. These included selling the company’s intellectual property – which had commercial and military applications – to a foreign corporation, on terms highly unfavourable to the Australian company."

"ASIO is yet to confirm if a nation state or foreign intelligence service directed this activity, but we are aware of similar cases where sensitive information about a company’s vulnerabilities – such as its cyber security settings – were passed to hostile intelligence services by an insider."

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The cast of Providence Falls could return in the Hallmark Universe in one major way, and I think it’s incredible - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 09:00

The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ are bringing Providence Falls to fans from August 2 in a three-part ‘event’ (think miniseries, only it’s three movies rather than episodes). The new three-part film series follows Cora (Katie Stevens), a new cop on the scene suddenly partnered with the rogue and spaced-out Liam (Lachlan Quarmby). The reason Liam’s not all there isn’t an obvious one, having been sent to Cora from their past lives in 1800s Ireland to make sure she falls in love with her fated romantic partner, Finn (Evan Roderick).

Essentially, we’ve got a period drama, police procedural and whodunnit murder mystery all happening at the same time, with one plot staying wrapped within another at all times. This will make much more sense as you watch it, and I promise the line between a satisfying payoff and having enough clues to crack without things being too confusing is an ideal balance. As these are Hallmark movies, after all, you can probably take a good guess at how the series ends.

But while the ending ties up some loose threads, does this really mean we’re leaving Providence Falls for good? I think it’s a world too rich to abandon, and when I put this to the cast, they already had their own ideas for a return.

Providence Falls could continue to exist in the wider Hallmark universe

“I hope [Providence Falls returns], it's a fun universe,” star Roderick tells me. “I think there's an opportunity to bring back the angels of destiny, and have that be the rock of the show. I mean, that would be a really, really cool concept moving forward, if the fans love it.”

As far as I’m concerned, Roderick’s elevator pitch is a Hallmark goldmine. The Angels of Destiny storyline could be applied to absolutely any character we’ve met over the past few decades, and could even work in the context of continuing shows such as The Chicken Sisters, When Calls the Heart and The Way Home. Anybody who has a dodgy run-in or awkward storyline gets a chance for redemption, even if they have to die in order to do so.

Granted, the number of people who have died in Hallmark projects is slim to none, meaning fresh recruits like Liam might need to be drafted in for Providence Falls to continue. But if the angels and main cast aren’t coming back (their storylines have basically been wrapped up, after all), there’s still the town itself. Everything we love about shows like Virgin River and Sullivan’s Crossing is now sitting in Hallmark’s lap, and they’d be silly not to utilise that.

Does Providence Falls now have the legs to be a springboard for a bigger ongoing series? I’d say absolutely. Of course, the same storyline can’t be replicated, but if Hallmark wants to replicate the out-of-the-box success of The Way Home or find a rival for Virgin River, they best start listening to Roderick’s idea.

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Lenovo's unknown Lecoo brand launches exciting mini PC which begs only one question to mind — when will it sell these outside of China? - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 09:02
  • Lecoo Mini Pro includes Radeon 780M graphics and dual USB4 ports for GPU expansion
  • AMD’s Ryzen 7 8745H powers the system with strong Zen 4 performance across eight cores
  • Two 2.5G Ethernet jacks allow for flexible networking options rarely seen in mini PCs

Lenovo has quietly released a new Lecoo-branded mini PC in China called the Mini Pro, a system which combines relatively strong performance with a compact, low-power design.

Lecoo is not a widely known brand in Lenovo’s global portfolio, but it joins a long list of sub-brands the company manages, including Motorola Mobility, Lenovo NEC, Medion, and LOQ.

While most of these brands have defined market positions or regional focuses, Lecoo appears to be geared toward affordable consumer tech and accessories.

A compact system priced for budget-conscious users

Priced between $363 and $615 depending on configuration, the Lecoo Mini Pro enters the same market space as many affordable workstation alternatives.

This device is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 8745H processor, a chip that belongs to the Hawk Point family and is similar to the Ryzen 7 8745HS.

It includes the integrated Radeon 780M graphics, which means it can tackle low to mid-tier gaming workloads.

For heavier graphical use, the system’s two USB4 ports allow for external GPU connectivity, a feature becoming more common on newer business PC setups and one that extends its capabilities beyond typical office work.

Internally, the Lecoo Mini Pro supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600MHz and offers dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for storage, pushing it close to workstation PC territory in terms of memory and drive expansion.

Despite the hardware capacity, the Lecoo Mini Pro remains a palm-sized and low-power device.

Even in its highest performance mode (70W), the thermal output is kept under control using dual fans and an aluminum chassis, and Lenovo says the noise level of this device is as low as 32 decibels in quiet mode.

Another strength of this device is connectivity, and it supports a mix of legacy and modern accessories - as it includes two USB4 ports, two 2.5G Ethernet jacks, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and multiple USB-A ports while also supporting Wi-Fi 6 as its only wireless option.

Lenovo has confirmed the Lecoo Mini Pro will be available for global shipping, and the sales page accepts payment via PayPal.

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It looks as though Google's fresh new Pixel 10 color will reach the Pixel Buds Pro 2 as well - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 09:30
  • The Pixel Buds Pro 2 may get a new shade
  • It's the Moonstone color linked to the Pixel 10
  • New gadgets are arriving on August 20

In the various Google Pixel 10 leaks we've come across recently, there's been a lot of a particular color involved: a grayey-bluey type of shade which is apparently called Moonstone. Now it seems the shade will be rolling out to Google's other gadgets too.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the existing Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds are now listed as being available in Moonstone, if you switch to the 3D view – though it's possible the change may have been rolled back by the time you're reading this.

What's more, the light green known as Wintergreen looks to be going away, as Moonstone replaces it in the listing. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 were launched in August last year, so it's perfectly possible that they're getting a refresh after 12 months.

There's no doubt that Google is keen on this Moonstone color: so far we've only seen one official teaser for the Pixel 10 launch event on Wednesday, August 20, and it shows off what we think is the Pixel 10 Pro in the Moonstone shade.

What we've heard so far

An official snap of the Pixel 10 Pro... in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)

Another leak has shown off everything we're expecting on August 20 in Moonstone: the Pixel 10, the Pixel Watch 4, and the Pixel Buds 2a. Other colors will of course be available, but it looks like this is going to be the primary one.

Aside from the colors, there have been plenty of leaks and rumors swirling around. The Pixel 10 series of phones – and there should be four of them again, like last year – are rumored to be introducing MagSafe-style wireless charging to Android for the first time.

As for the Google Pixel Watch 4, we've heard that it's going to get a rather interesting new charging system, and come in at the same sort of prices that we saw with the Pixel Watch 3 last year – with some Fitbit and YouTube promos bundled in for good measure.

We haven't heard quite as much about the Google Pixel Buds 2a, but the updated earbuds could bring with them a tweaked design if the rumors are true. We will of course bring you all the official announcements, as they happen.

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Wacom's unique MovinkPad 11 Android tablet with Pro Pen 3 support gets its first review, and aspiring illustrators will love it - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 11:25
  • The Wacom Pro Pen 3 delivers precision drawing without needing a battery or Bluetooth pairing
  • Wacom MovinkPad 11 uses a matte screen that reduces glare and enhances pen control significantly
  • Android’s lack of Photoshop and Illustrator support continues to limit mobile creative workflows overall

Wacom’s MovinkPad 11 is an unusual addition to the Android tablet space, not because of its processing power or app ecosystem, but due to one standout feature: support for the Wacom Pro Pen 3.

According to PCWatch, this device costs just under 70,000 yen (approximately $471), making it cheaper than many competing tablets, and includes the same pen technology trusted by professional artists.

Still, its appeal seems tailored to a very specific audience, and it’s worth asking whether its strengths truly outweigh its compromises.

A familiar pen, now in a standalone tablet

The MovinkPad 11 comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 3, which, unlike many battery-powered options, uses EMR (electromagnetic resonance) to achieve low-latency, battery-free performance.

It’s long been favored by digital artists working with pen displays like the Cintiq and Intuos Pro.

Now, with this Android tablet, Wacom appears to be targeting users who want to practice professional-level pen input without needing a full computer setup.

From a usability standpoint, the experience is generally fluid, particularly when using drawing apps like CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEBUT, which comes pre-installed.

However, the lack of Android versions of Adobe’s photo editing software remains a limitation for users who rely on tools like Photoshop or Illustrator.

This device features an 11.45-inch display with a resolution of 2200 x 1440, and it also uses a matte finish that resists glare and fingerprints.

This surface, combined with the Pro Pen 3’s fine pressure sensitivity, does offer a more natural feel than the glossy panels found on many mainstream tablets.

For illustration software, where pen glide and surface resistance matter, this hardware combination is a major advantage.

But as an Android tablet, the MovinkPad 11 is less impressive because it runs on a midrange MediaTek Helio G99 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

That’s sufficient for drawing and basic multitasking, but not exceptional.

Despite its salient selling points, Wacom’s software decisions raise valid questions.

The custom interface, Wacom UX, allows for quick access to a sketching app called Wacom Canvas, even when the device is locked.

This might appeal to beginners eager to sketch instantly, but the lack of biometric authentication and broader Android productivity features may feel restrictive.

Likewise, while it’s handy that third-party EMR pens also work with the device, the software ecosystem surrounding Android remains limited for serious graphic design software users.

The MovinkPad 11 feels more like it fills a niche and neither stands as a powerful Android tablet, nor is it aimed at established professionals.

Instead, it’s an accessible entry point for students and hobbyists hoping to develop their skills using the same tools found in professional environments.

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Premier League Summer Series: Stream Man United vs. Everton From Anywhere - Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 14:00
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