Spotify privacy glitch reveals VP’s playlists 🎧
- Spotify’s lax privacy controls appear to have let the public view personal playlists from figures like US Vice President JD Vance and other celebrities.
- A website called “Panama Playlists” surfaced, showing how easily anyone can uncover music preferences and listening history thanks to Spotify’s default public settings.
- This episode highlights bigger privacy risks for all users, as platforms set sharing to “public” by default, making private tastes open to unwanted attention or scrutiny.
iOS 26 beta brings Liquid Glass revamp ✨
- The iOS 26 public beta is now available, letting anyone try Apple’s sleek new “Liquid Glass” look and features before the official release.
- The update overhauls the home and lock screens, adds improved call screening, spam filters in Messages, and brings back a much-missed Photos app feature.
- Early access means you can test upcoming tools and designs across your Apple gear, while helping shape the final update arriving later this year.
Apple hits record three billion iPhones milestone 📱
- Apple has now sold three billion iPhones since the device first launched in 2007, marking a historic achievement announced by CEO Tim Cook during the company’s quarterly earnings.
- Apple reached this new milestone just four years after selling its two-billionth iPhone, fuelled by strong demand for the iPhone 16 and robust growth even as global smartphone sales level off.
- Hitting three billion reflects the iPhone’s place as an iconic consumer device and shows Apple’s staying power in an increasingly competitive global market.
Apple ramps up AI spending, eyes big moves 🤖
- Apple signals a major push into AI, with CEO Tim Cook promising much higher investments and energy behind artificial intelligence across the company.
- Cook revealed Apple is reallocating staff to focus on AI, increasing capital spending, and is open to acquiring both small and potentially large companies to boost its AI plans.
- As rivals surge ahead with AI, Apple’s bigger bets could shape future iPhones and Macs and decide whether it can catch up in the fast-moving tech race.
OpenAI opens first European AI hub in Norway 🏔️
- OpenAI launches its first European data centre in Northern Norway, partnering with Nscale and Aker to power AI work across the continent.
- The “Stargate Norway” facility, backed by $1 billion investment, will use 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs and run on renewable energy, aiming for up to 520MW capacity.
- This move gives Europe more control over AI infrastructure and boosts Norway’s tech ecosystem, letting local startups and researchers tap into top-tier AI power.
Microsoft warns writers and translators at risk 🤖
- A new Microsoft study highlights 40 jobs most at risk of being replaced as companies use AI tools like Copilot for core job tasks.
- Roles such as interpreters, writers, historians, sales reps, and customer service are most vulnerable, based on how often generative AI is already streamlining and automating their daily work.
- With AI rapidly advancing in language, analysis and customer interaction, workers in affected fields are urged to adapt their skills or face increasing risk of automation.
Google loses app store appeal to Epic 🏛️
- The Epic Games vs Google antitrust case saw an appeals court uphold a ruling requiring Google to overhaul its Play Store and allow direct rivals on Android.
- Google’s bid to overturn a previous verdict failed, meaning the company must now permit competing app stores—including the Epic Games Store—on the Play Store as well as alternative in-app payment options.
- The decision could reshape Android, making it easier for users and developers to choose non-Google app stores, with Google warning of security and innovation risks while planning to appeal further.
SharePoint ransomware attacks hit global services 🛡️
- SharePoint-ageddon attacks riddle systems with Warlock ransomware, letting hackers exploit a critical bug to hijack vulnerable SharePoint servers worldwide in escalating cyberattacks.
- Attackers, led by the Storm-2603 group, have chained newly discovered and old flaws to bypass security, deploy free Warlock ransomware, and target sectors including government, finance, and healthcare.
- Up to 9,000 services remain at risk, with urgent patching needed as multi-factor authentication and traditional defences have proven ineffective against this wave of attacks.
Digital notebooks step up in 2025 📒
- Lifehacker’s new roundup of top digital notebooks highlights the latest in writing tablets and smart pads for note-takers, students, and creatives.
- Devices such as the reMarkable 2 lead the pack with ultra-long battery life, paper-like writing feel, and slick integration with cloud services for easy access across devices.
- With these upgrades, digital notebooks are closing the gap with paper, making it easier to ditch bulky notebooks and streamline your workflow, whether you’re at work or studying.
YouTube Music features win over Spotify switcher 🎵
- A recent move from Spotify to YouTube Music surprised a long-time user with useful features and content that stand out from typical music streaming experiences.
- YouTube Music makes it easy to switch between audio and music videos, offers more unofficial tracks and remixes, and supports seamless playback of local files—areas where Spotify typically falls short.
- These unique features can appeal to music lovers who crave variety, rare tracks, and the flexibility to access all their music—including home recordings or downloads—without needing multiple apps.
Netflix big August releases🎬
- A packed list of new series and movies is dropping on Netflix in August, featuring top originals, fresh documentaries, and hotly awaited returning favourites.
- Season 2 of Wednesday leads a huge month, joined by buzzy titles like the animated comedy Long Story Short, thriller Hostage, reality show Final Draft, and documentary Stolen: Heist of the Century.
- Big-name releases and clever new originals mean viewers can expect a richer mix of comedy, crime, docos and drama—ideal for binge-watching afternoons or sharing the latest pop culture talking points.
Battlefield 6 rekindles classic FPS energy 🎮
- Battlefield 6 feels like a safe, explosive return, drawing on the franchise’s golden years for its large-scale combat, strategic destruction, and signature squad action.
- The latest hands-on preview reveals revamped maps, dynamic destruction, classic class roles, and high-octane warfare with new features that modernise but respect the series’ roots.
- By returning to trusted formulas while adding meaningful tweaks, Battlefield aims to recapture lapsed fans and restore its reputation after recent missteps.
Netflix eyes big future for K-Pop Demon Hunters 🎤
- Netflix is reportedly exploring not just a sequel and live-action adaptation, but a whole slate of projects for its breakout animated hit.
- Following the film’s massive global success, Netflix is in talks for animated sequels, a live-action remake, stage musical, short films, and even a potential series about the demon-slaying K-pop group.
- This move signals Netflix’s intent to build a major multimedia franchise that taps K-culture fandom and could rival animation powerhouses with storytelling, music, and merchandising.
