News
- A new leak suggests the Sony WF-1000XM6 are arriving soon
- There might be a slight tweak in terms of the dimensions
- It's been two years since the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds launched
We've recently seen the flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones launched, but what of the wireless earbud equivalents? Well, a new leak suggests the Sony WF-1000XM6 aren't far away from being made official either.
As per The Walkman Blog (via Notebookcheck), import documentation has surfaced that mentions the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds by name – describing them, somewhat strangely, as "headphones without a frame".
We don't get too much in the way of detail here, but there is a reference to the charging case in the documentation, and we get the dimensions of the earbuds: it looks as though the new pair will be a little smaller overall than the Sony WF-1000XM5.
The dimensions listed in the leak are 84mm x 70mm x 55mm for the Sony WF-1000XM6, which compare to 99mm x 66.4mm x 53mm for the Sony WF-1000XM5, but we don't get any hints of a redesign here.
Will the price be right?Sony just launched the WH-1000XM6 headphones (Image credit: Future)Our list of what we want to see from the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds mentions better noise cancellation, improved connectivity, better battery life, an upgraded IP rating, more color options, and (of course) a cheaper price.
Head to our Sony WF-1000XM5 review and you'll see those earbuds launched at a starting price of $299.99 / £259 / AU$499. That was back in July 2023 though, and the tech industry and the world in general has changed quite substantially since then.
It doesn't look as though another July launch is likely for 2025, but based on the manufacturing stages mentioned in these import filings, the earbuds should break cover in the coming months – so most probably before the end of the year.
Whenever the Sony WF-1000XM6 make an appearance, they're going to face stiff competition in what is one of the most crowded categories in tech. We're still waiting for the AirPods Pro 3, for example, but they may not show up until next year.
You might also like- 33-year-old man was accused of spying for the Chinese government
- FBI alleges he is part of the Silk Typhoon hacking collective
- If convicted, he might be looking at decades in jail
Italian law enforcement has arrested a 33-year-old Chinese national for allegedly spying on the United States.
Landing at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a flight from China, Zewei Xu was apprehended by local police, and according to Italian news agency ANSA, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly participating in cyber-espionage operations for China, targeting data surrounding anti-COVID vaccines that were being produced at the University of Texas back in 2020.
Citing “interior ministry documents”, ANSA said Xu is accused of being part of Hafnium, an infamous state-sponsored threat actor also known as Silk Typhoon. With this group, Xu allegedly “targeted thousands of computers around the world” to get information on “various US government policies.”
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There will be a hearing early next week, at Milan’s Court of Appeals, to determine whether or not Xu will be extradited to the United States.
While his family claims he is an IT manager at Shanghai GTA Semi Conductor, where he develops IT systems and network infrastructure, American authorities accuse Xu of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
If convicted, Xu is looking at a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, as well as an additional five years for unauthorized access to protected computers.
Silk Typhoon is one of many “typhoon” groups (Flax Typhoon, Silk Typhoon, and others), all of which are apparently state-sponsored and engaged in various forms of cybercriminal activity.
Critical infrastructure firms, government organizations, telecommunications companies, and similar, are the typhoons’ most common targets.
In mid-April 2025, amid a serious escalation of hostilities between the US and China, senior Chinese officials apparently acknowledged behind closed doors that Beijing was involved in a series of cyberattacks on US critical infrastructure, conducted by Volt Typhoon.
This group was infiltrating US critical infrastructure systems for years, including compromising energy, communications, transportation, and water industries.
Via BleepingComputer
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- Germany is calling on Apple and Google to block the DeepSeek app from the country's official app stores
- The Berlin Data Protection Commissioner has deemed the Chinese AI chatbot "unlawful" over alleged privacy violations
- Italy banned DeepSeek from official app stores in January over similar concerns
DeepSeek could soon disappear from Apple and Google's official app stores in Germany as data protection officials accuse the Chinese chatbot of alleged privacy violations.
"DeepSeek's transfer of user data to China is unlawful," said Berlin Data Protection Commissioner Meike Kamp, in an official announcement dated June 27, 2025. Kamp has called on the Big Tech giant to consider blocking the app in the country.
Another EU member, Italy, already banned Deepseek from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in January 2025 over similar grounds. The block was enforced about a week after the release of the ChatGPT rival.
Does DeepSeek violate GDPR rules?(Image credit: Pixabay)According to German authorities, the company behind DeepSeek AI (Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd) violates Art. 46 (1) of the GDPR, which rules the need for "appropriate safeguards" when transferring EU citizens' personal data to a third country.
According to Kamp, DeepSeek failed to convince German officials that users' data is protected when these details are transferred to China, as expected by EU laws.
"Chinese authorities have far-reaching rights of access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies. Furthermore, DeepSeek users in China do not have the enforceable rights and effective legal remedies guaranteed in the European Union," Kamp added.
These concerns echoed similar GDPR complaints issued after examining the platform's privacy policy and finding "multiple violations" of European rules.
Did you know?(Image credit: Adobe Stock)The US is currently pushing for a new bill, known as the 'No Adversarial AI Act,' to ban all AI models built in China, Iran, Russia, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from being used in government agencies – DeepSeek included.
It's worth noting that DeepSeek updated its privacy policy on July 4, 2025, and now states that the company does not engage in 'profiling,' which was among the issues raised by EU privacy watchdogs. That said, other concerns previously raised, such as non-transparent information on data retention periods, may remain.
On May 6, 2025, German data protection officials asked the Chinese firm to "independently remove its apps from the German app stores, cease the illegal data transfer to China, or fulfill the legal requirements for lawful third-country transfers," the announcement reads. A request that, said German officials, Deepseek failed to comply with.
Kamp has then decided to exercise Germany's right under Art. 16 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to report what he believes to be "illegal content" to app stores' operators.
She said: "I have therefore informed Google and Apple, as operators of the largest app platforms, of the violations and expect a timely consideration of a blocking."
While Italy was the first to launch an investigation into DeepSeek's data privacy and security practices on January 28, 2025, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Portugal are also investigating DeepSeek's policies over potential GDPR violations.
Can you use a VPN if DeepSeek gets blocked?It's still early to say whether the popular Chinese AI chatbot will leave the German market for good.
What we do know, though, is that DeepSeek is increasingly under fire worldwide, meaning that some of its nearly 97 million active users may need to find an alternative way to download, update, and use the app.
Using the best VPN services is generally an easy way to bypass online geo-restrictions, thanks to their IP-spoofing capabilities that let you look like you're browsing from a completely different country in no time.
That said, like with the short-lived US TikTok ban, a VPN isn't a one-click solution if DeepSeek gets banned on official app stores.
That's mainly because using a VPN doesn't spoof your location linked to your app stores. This means that you'll need to "find another way of downloading the app other than the Apple App or Google Play stores," Eamonn Maguire, Head of Account Security at Proton – the provider behind Proton VPN – told me back in January.
However, experts suggest doing this with caution as potential privacy concerns may remain.
You might also likeFoundation season 3 is almost here. The critically-acclaimed Apple TV Original's latest installment will arrive in less than 48 hours, so you'll want to know exactly when you can stream it.
Below, I'll tell you when its first episode will be available to watch on Apple TV+. You'll also find a full release schedule for Foundation's third season at the end of this article, so you can make block out some time in your busy schedule to view them as soon as they air.
What time can I stream Foundation season 3's first episode on Apple TV+?Gaal Dornick will return in Foundation's third season (Image credit: Apple TV+)Foundation season 3 will premiere on one of the best streaming services on Friday, July 11. It should do so globally, too. I say "should" because, like other entries in our best Apple TV+ shows guide, it could arrive earlier in some nations, such as the US.
Occasionally, new episodes of Apple TV Originals actually launch late on Thursdays in certain time zones. Viewers in some North and South America regions, then, may get to see them early.
So, what time will season 3 episode 1 come out? Apple doesn't usually release information about episodic launch times. However, based on when other TV Originals, including Severance, have landed on Apple TV+, here's when we expect Foundation season 3's first episode to be released (NB: if your country isn't listed below, use 12am ET to work out when you can stream it):
- US – Thursday, July 10 at 9pm PT / Friday, July 11 at 12am ET
- Canada – Thursday, July 10 at 9pm PT / Friday, July 11 at 12am ET
- UK – Friday, July 11 at 5am BST
- India – Friday, July 11 at 9:30am IST
- Singapore – Friday, July 11 at 12pm SGT
- Australia – Friday, July 11 at 2pm AEST
- New Zealand – Friday, July 11 at 4pm NZST
New episodes of Foundation season 3 will land on Apple TV+ every Friday. Read on for a full breakdown on when to expect new chapters:
- Foundation season 3 episode 1 – Friday, July 11
- Foundation season 3 episode 2 – Friday, July 18
- Foundation season 3 episode 3 – Friday, July 25
- Foundation season 3 episode 4 – Friday, August 1
- Foundation season 3 episode 5 – Friday, August 8
- Foundation season 3 episode 6 – Friday, August 15
- Foundation season 3 episode 7 – Friday, August 22
- Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
- Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
- Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12
For more Foundation coverage, read my Foundation season 3 review or check out the below section for more from my exclusive chats with its cast ahead of this season's debut.
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- Netflix has released a new trailer for Wednesday season 2
- The teaser arrives one month ahead of the hugely popular show's return
- Wednesday's sophomore season will be released in two parts
Netflix has released the official trailer for the highly-anticipated second season of Wednesday that sees the titular character in a race against the clock to save the life of her school bestie.
As the eponymous character and fans alike prepare for their sophomore year at Nevermore Academy, the streaming titan has debuted plenty of new footage via a new teaser. Check it out below:
Until now, we only knew that Jenna Ortega's protagonist would not only return to Nevermore, but also need to solve another hair-raising supernatural mystery. As the above teaser confirms, it'll center around Emma Myers' Enid Sinclair, whose life is in grave danger unless Wednesday can use her psychic abilities and detective skills to stop Enid from being murdered by something or someone.
After her exploits in season 1, Wednesday has also acquired an unwanted hero status and small group of fanatical followers. If she thought some of her fellow students were annoying last term, Wednesday's seen nothing yet.
Wednesday season 2's latest trailer arrives exactly one month before it debuts on the world's best streaming service.
Like many of Netflix's most-watched TV Originals, it'll launch in two parts. Volume 1, which comprises four episodes, releases on August 6, while the final four chapters, aka season 2 part 2, will air on September 3. Funnily enough, both dates fall on a Wednesday. It's almost as if Netflix planned this...
Enid's going to survive... right? (Image credit: Netflix)This isn't the only footage Netflix has treated us to recently. In April, it unveiled the first trailer for Wednesday season 2. Then, at Tudum 2025 in late May, Netflix released the first six minutes of the series' second season, which showed the eponymous hero using her prescient powers to turn the tables on a serial killer in typically deadpan fashion.
We've also learned plenty more about one of the best Netflix shows' next installment in non-video form.
In mid-May, Netflix lifted the lid on some of the new and returning faces we'll see in Wednesday 2, the former of whom includes Joanna Lumley's turn as Grandmama and Steve Buscemi's new Nevermore principal. Those reveals came over a year after Netflix announced a Westworld alumnus would appear in Wednesday season 2 and the addition of Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Addams Family movie actors to season 2's cast.
A couple of weeks later, a sneak peek video also confirmed we'll be getting tons more Addams family lore next season. Considering we'll be seeing more of Wednesday's immediate family, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones' Morticia and Isaac Ordonez's Pugsley this time around, that's to be expected.
For even more details on the show ahead of its return, read our ultimate guide to Wednesday season 2.
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- Rockerbox kept an open database online for an unknown period
- The database contained ID card numbers and other vital information
- Following its discovery, it has now been locked down
A tax credit consulting agency inadvertently exposed sensitive data on thousands of its customers by allegedly keeping a database filled with personally identifiable information (PII) open on the public internet.
It was discovered by Jeremiah Fowler, a cybersecurity researcher and analyst known for hunting for unencrypted and non-password-protected databases, and in a new vpnMentor report, Fowler said he found an archive with a total size of 286.9 GB, containing 245,949 records.
“In a limited sampling of the exposed documents, I saw files that detailed PII such as names, physical addresses, email addresses, DOB, and SSN in plain text,” Fowler explained. “There were also driver’s licenses, identification cards, SSN cards, work opportunity tax credit documents that included employment and salary information, and determination letters with acceptance or denials of eligibility.”
Rockerbox leaksFurthermore, he observed DD214 forms - Certificates of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued by the US Department of Defense to veterans and similar military personnel. There were also password-protected PDF files labeled as “forms”, with file names containing PII such as employer names, and applicant first and last names.
Fowler attributed the database to a Texas-based company called Rockerbox, a tax credit consulting organization helping businesses increase their cash flow by identifying and managing employer-focused tax incentives through programs like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), R&D credits, and Empowerment Zone credits.
After reaching out to Rockerbox, the company closed down the archive in a matter of days, but allegedly never replied back to the researcher.
Therefore, we don’t know if the company manages this database, or if that work was handled by a third party - or if any threat actors obtained it in the past, but at press time, there was no evidence about in-the-wild abuse.
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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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, July 9 (game #1262).
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.
Quordle today (game #1263) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* 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).
Quordle today (game #1263) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 4.
Quordle today (game #1263) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1263) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
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:
Quordle today (game #1263) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• C
• W
• U
• P
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1263) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1263, are…
- CROSS
- WHEEL
- UNDID
- PENCE
With E-N-C-E in position and just two possibilities for the first letter I picked the wrong one. In this situation I am sure most people would have chosen fence ahead of PENCE – but then again, that's probably only the case in the UK.
These moments are what makes Quordle such fun – just when you think you’ve got all the answers it’ll kick you in the teeth.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1263) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1263, are…
- SNIPE
- ALPHA
- BATHE
- GROUP
- Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
- Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
- Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
- Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
- Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
- Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
- Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
- Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
- Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
- Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
- Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
- Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
- Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
- Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
- Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
- Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
- Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
- Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
- Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
A new NYT Strands 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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, July 9 (game #493).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Nap time!
NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- DECK
- TIES
- SWOT
- WORK
- SPRAY
- GUIDE
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #494) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #494) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #494, are…
- DROWSY
- SPENT
- WEARY
- FATIGUED
- TIRED
- KNACKERED
- SPANGRAM: SLEEPYHEAD
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Yesterday it was party time! And today it’s nap time! Strands was obviously anticipating quite the knees up.
To be honest I am much more familiar with napping than partying, which is possibly why I made such quick work of today’s word search.
I have been feeling nearly every word in today’s search over the past few days. It’s not due to a lack of sleep or exhaustion due to over exercise, it’s because I am attempting to give up caffeine and am experiencing some quite radical side effects including feeling constantly DROWSY, SPENT, WEARY, FATIGUED, TIRED and zzzzzzzz....
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, July 9, game #493)- BALLOON
- BUNTING
- PENNANT
- CONFETTI
- STREAMER
- SPANGRAM: DECORATIONS
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.