SharePoint hackers now hitting with ransomware 🔒
- Microsoft warns that cyber groups exploiting recent SharePoint server flaws have started using ransomware attacks, raising the stakes for targeted organisations.
- Attackers have broken into on-premises SharePoint servers by chaining software bugs, stealing data, setting up backdoors, and now, demanding ransoms by encrypting vital files.
- This shift from silent spying to outright disruption means businesses running unpatched SharePoint servers could face not just data breaches but serious operational shutdowns and financial losses.
AppleCare One bundles device protection 🎁
- AppleCare One multi-device plan lets users cover up to three Apple products with a single $19.99/month subscription, with each extra device costing $5.99/month.
- The new plan includes the benefits of AppleCare+, like unlimited accidental damage repairs, battery service, 24/7 support, and—for the first time—extends theft and loss protection to iPad and Apple Watch.
- Customers can now simplify their support, save money over separate plans, and even add devices up to four years old if they pass a condition check.
Trump orders crackdown on ‘woke’ AI models 🤖
- A new order targeting “woke” AI systems could change how major US tech companies develop and train artificial intelligence.
- The directive, signed by Trump, bans so-called “woke” or biased AI from federal government use and calls for stronger oversight of AI training data and methods.
- These moves may force tech giants to overhaul their AI tools, raising concerns about free speech, business rules, and global competitiveness.
AI coding contest reveals early struggles 🤖
- The first results are in from a high-profile AI coding challenge, showing that even advanced AI still has a long way to go in real-world coding tasks.
- Top AI teams competed for the $50,000 prize, but despite big names and resources, solutions often fell short on basic software engineering fundamentals.
- These poor showings highlight just how much work is needed before AI can reliably automate complex programming, raising fresh questions about its readiness for real-world use.
Tesla stumbles again with falling profits 🚗
- Tesla’s latest quarterly results show a 12% drop in revenue and a steep fall in profit as car sales and regulatory credits both declined.
- Vehicle deliveries for the quarter slipped to about 384,000, with operating income down by 42%, and Tesla warning of continuing weak demand and shrinking margins.
- Investors are watching closely as Tesla bets big on AI and robotics, while doubters question if new tech and products can offset the slump in its core car business.
Nicole Laeno’s secret for viral videos 📸
- Rising star Nicole Laeno reveals the two cameras she uses for viral content, balancing pro quality with everyday ease.
- She shoots slick YouTube and dance videos with a Canon camera, but relies on her iPhone 15 Pro Max for spontaneous clips and on-the-go updates.
- The mix gives creators a practical toolkit to make eye-catching content anywhere, showing you don’t always need expensive gear to go viral.
Sundar Pichai signals phones still trump glasses 📱
- Sundar Pichai highlights “agentic 2026” but says smartphones will remain more important than smart glasses for daily use, at least in the near future.
- Speaking on Alphabet’s earnings call, Pichai shared that while agentic AI and XR glasses are progressing, mainstream adoption of glasses will take a few more years.
- This signals that big changes in how we interact with AI—moving from screens to wearable devices—are coming, but your phone isn’t obsolete yet.
Google AI overviews slash link clicks 📉
- A new study into Google’s AI overviews shows that only 8% of users click links on pages with AI summaries, nearly halving traffic from standard search.
- The research found people are now less likely to click on both traditional search results and even less on links inside AI Overviews—with most users ending their session after reading the AI answer.
- These shifts are causing concern for publishers who rely on Google referrals, as dwindling clicks could impact web traffic, ad revenue and the diversity of online sources.
Kobo’s iOS app gets sleek new look 📱
- The Kobo iOS app has received a complete redesign, adding features like vertical scrolling, a new listening bar for audiobooks, and an easier-to-use interface.
- This marks the app’s biggest overhaul since launch, bringing it in line with modern reading habits, plus guest mode and upcoming Instapaper integration.
- While the updated app is welcome, long-time Kobo users are left hoping the company’s slow-to-evolve Elipsa 2E e-note device will get needed upgrades next.
Lego unveils nine new sets at Comic-Con 🧱
- Lego just dropped nine new sets at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, led by a retro Game Boy set that recreates the classic handheld in brick form.
- The line-up includes a 1:1 scale Game Boy with authentic details and two brick-built game cartridges, plus new sets inspired by Stranger Things, Wicked, and Batman.
- These releases tap deep nostalgia and pop culture, signalling Lego’s continued focus on adult fans and collectors as the holiday season approaches.
Wednesday lands season 3 renewal on Netflix 🦇
- The hit Addams Family spinoff Wednesday renewed for third season, just weeks before its much-anticipated season 2 arrives in August.
- Netflix is doubling down on the creepy, kooky series starring Jenna Ortega, with season 2 set to debut in two parts on August 6 and September 3.
- The early renewal signals Netflix’s confidence in Wednesday’s global appeal and ongoing cultural buzz, cementing it as one of the platform’s biggest franchises.
Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set smashes records 💥
- The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set earned an eye-watering $200 million on its first day, making it Magic’s biggest launch ever.
- Hasbro increased production runs four times to meet demand, but fans still snapped up the entire release faster than any previous set.
- This runaway success highlights the immense global pull of Final Fantasy and points to more major pop culture crossovers in the world of trading cards.
2025’s must-watch K-dramas make waves 🌊
- 10 K-dramas that owned the first half of 2025 have captivated global audiences by blending emotional stories, standout acting, and innovative themes across romance, thrillers, and coming-of-age tales.
- The list features dramas like “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” which spotlighted medical heroes and social issues, alongside other hit series set in striking locations and exploring fresh concepts.
- This surge in high-quality Korean drama shows the genre’s continued global appeal and sets the bar for storytelling, making these series essential viewing for fans and newcomers alike.
