Category: 4. Technology

Best Prime Day Apple Deals on Day 2:

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Apple doesn’t typically offer discounts across its tech line-up, which means that you’ll need to head to third-party sites like Amazon to find them. With thousands of products now discounted across the site for Prime Day, it’s one of the best opportunities of the year to land savings on the tech giant’s offerings, and there’s already plenty of Prime Day Apple deals to bank across AirPods, Apple Watches, Beats headphones and more.

Shop Apple Prime Day Deals Amazon

If you’re thinking about upgrading your smartwatch or fitness tracker, there’s discounts on all three of the latest Apple Watch models. The flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a hefty £140 off, down from to £799 to £659, the everyday powerhouse Apple Watch Series 10 has dipped under £300 – now just £295, down from £399. The latest entry-level Apple Watch SE is also discounted, with £34 slashed off its ordinary price this Prime Day.

There’s also plenty of opportunities for an audio upgrade. You can now grab the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 for less, reduced by £50 and £30 respectively. Because Beats is owned by Apple, we’ve also included deals on the new workout-leaning Powerbeats Pro 2 – down from £249.99 to £185.25 – and the older, but still excellent, Beats Fit Pro, which are over £110 off at £108.30. Here’s a round-up of the all these, plus more of the best Apple Prime deals we’ve found so far, including more offers on iPads, iMacs and iPhones.

Prime Day Apple Deals

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Now 18% Off

Was £799, now £659

SAVE £140

Apple Watch Series 10

Now 26% Off

Was £399, now £295

SAVE £104

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Now 14% Off

Was £249, now £215

SAVE £34

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Now 20% Off

Was £229, now £179

SAVE £50

Was £219.99, now £108.30

SAVE £111.69

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Now 26% Off

Was £249.99, now £185.24

SAVE £64.75

Apple AirPods 4

Now 17% Off

Was £179, now £149

SAVE £30

Beats Studio Pro

Now 52% Off

Was £349.99, now £166.25

SAVE £183.74

Was £189, now £139

SAVE £50

Apple Phone 16e 128GB

Now 18% Off

Was £599, now £494

SAVE £105

Apple AirTag (4 pack)

Now 29% Off

Was £119, now £84

SAVE £35

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop

Now 14% Off

Was £1399, now £1207

SAVE £192

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When Does Prime Day End?

If you’ve been holding out for a bargain before picking up a new Apple smartwatch, tablet, smartphone or earbuds, the clock is now ticking. You have 96 hours from the start of the sale to make the most of these deals before it ends at midnight on Friday 11 July.

Do You Need a Prime Membership to Take Part?

Yes. To make use of these Apple Prime Day deals, plus all the other offers included in the event this week, you’ll need to either already be a Prime member or you can join for free by signing up to a 30-day free trial, which you can cancel for no fee once the sale ends after midnight on Friday.

More Fitness Tech Deals and Reviews

Prime Day Deals 2025 | Prime Day Headphone Deals | Prime Day Garmin Deals | Best Apple Watches | Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review | Beats Fit Pro Review | Best Beats Headphones | Best Gym Headphones

Luke Chamberlain is the ecommerce editor for Men’s Health UK where he compiles expert-led buying guides and in-depth product reviews across gym wear, fitness tech, supplements, and grooming. Responsible for testing everything from the latest gym headphones to the best manscaping tools, Luke also enlists the help of leading health and wellness experts to help readers make informed choices when shopping online – whether it’s to debunk the latest viral hair growth trend or to get the lowdown on a new type of recovery tech. He also covers major sales events for Men’s Health, such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, scouting and verifying hundreds of discounts in order to recommend only the most genuine deals on offer. A magazine journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield in 2018, Luke has also worked as assistant editor for Outdoor Swimmer magazine and as an ecommerce writer for The Recommended. When he’s not testing the latest health and fitness products, he’s busy plotting routes for his next trail run or gravel ride out of London. Follow Luke on Instagram at @lukeochamb

While pricing around new technology is increasing, Amazon Prime deals are still here to bring you a few sales on phones — even those that are already at fair prices. Take this Samsung Galaxy A16 for example. The Samsung Galaxy A series are some of our favorite phones for people on a budget, and while it doesn’t have everything the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series offers, it’s still a solid device. Best of all, Amazon Prime sales just dropped the phone to a new record low of $142. That’s a nice $58 saving for a 2025 model that has 5G built-in; and its the lowest price we have seen all year.

The Samsung Galaxy A-series phones are built to last and are our favorite options for those who want an affordable model that will remain viable for years. Realistically, the new 2025 Galaxy A16 won’t exactly keep up with the latest and greatest models from Apple and Google — or the foldable Samsung devices being announced today at Galaxy Unpacked — but it still boasts some decent specs for the price.

The Samsung Galaxy A15 won the best ultracheap phone on our Best Samsung Phone of 2025 round-up. Our CNET tech experts called it “an easy choice for someone looking to buy a phone that will last for years.” They added in the review, “Samsung provides [the Galaxy A15] with four years of software updates and five years of security support, which in this price range is unparalleled.”

So, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is one step up. Mike Sorrentino, senior tech editor, says that the “Galaxy A16 [is] one of the lowest-cost phones to get a software and security update commitment [for] longer than five years, which could be a benefit for someone looking to buy a simple phone that will be updated.”

The A16 has an Exynos 1330 processor, a 6.7-inch AMOLED display and an impressive 50-megapixel rear camera. It also has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. Other features include a tap-to-pay function, an IP54 weather-resistance rating and 25-watt fast-charging support.

Why this deal matters

We recommend the Samsung Galaxy A series phones as an excellent budget option, which means they’re already great value at full price. This deal marks the best discounts we’ve seen on this new 2025 model, beating out the last record-low price of $175 (now, it’s $33 cheaper than that). Plus, this offer is for an unlocked model, giving you the flexibility to activate it with whatever carrier you prefer or use it exclusively over Wi-Fi.

Want to check out the competition? We’ve rounded up the best phone deals from around the web, including Apple, Samsung, Motorola and more.

CVP, one of Europe’s leading resellers and providers of professional video and broadcast solutions, is proud to announce the return of the European Lens Summit, a flagship event dedicated to the science, art, and innovation of lens technology.

Now in its second edition, the Summit promises to be the most ambitious yet. Hosted at CVP’s state-of-the-art Brentford facility on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July, this immersive two-day experience will bring together the global lens community for an unparalleled exploration of optical excellence.

Attendees will connect with the world’s leading lens manufacturers, optical engineers, cinematographers, rental houses, post-production specialists, and industry influencers. The event offers a rare opportunity to engage with both cutting-edge lens innovations and classic vintage optics—all under one roof.

“This is Europe’s definitive lens event,” said Jon Fry, CEO of CVP. “The Lens Summit is a collaborative learning environment where innovation, creativity, and technical expertise come together. It brings the brightest minds in optics and cinematography not only to showcase products, but to share ideas, challenge conventions, and inspire one another. Our goal is to foster deep technical understanding while igniting creativity—creating a space where both the art and science of lens technology are celebrated and advanced.”

What to Expect:

• Hands-on access to the latest high-end lenses and character-rich vintage glass
• Technical presentations, panel discussions, and deep-dive masterclasses
• Live demos and training zones to test, compare, and experiment
• The CVP Lens Bar
• Dedicated networking spaces throughout the venue
• The Lens Pub Quiz – a fun and competitive after-hours gathering to test your knowledge and meet peers

Main Stage Highlights Include:

• Inside the Look of September 5 – RED Masterclass with Markus Förderer ASC, BVK
• Glass and Grain: The Visual Language of Shōgun – with Chris Ross BSC
• Through The Lens: Choosing Lenses for Your Project – with Bianca Halpern & Emily Jane Robinson
• Atlas: Bridging the Past & Future – with Dan Kanes & Michael Koerner
• New Collaborations Empowering Cinematographers – with Sara Coppola-Nicholson & Guest Panel
• Inside the Frame: Unlocking Sony’s Native Lens Potential  – with Balazs Bolygo HCA, BSC

Tech Talks and Hands-On Training Include:

• Zeiss: Modern Optics for Modern Requirements
• Angénieux: Oval Iris for the Optimo Prime Series
• Hawk: Anamorphic Lenses Overview
• ARRI: Introducing the ENSO Primes
• TLS: Vintage Compatibility for Large Sensors
• Cooke: Lens Maintenance and /i Technology
• CVP: Back Focus, Camera Comparisons & Live Testing
• Blackmagic: URSA Cine Live Lens Testing
• IBE: The New O-Tool Demonstration

Full programme and registration: https://cvp.com/events/sessions/eurolenssummit

Perplexity on Wednesday launched its first AI-powered web browser, called Comet, marking the startup’s latest effort to challenge Google Search as the primary avenue people use to find information online.

At launch, Comet will be available first to subscribers of Perplexity’s $200-per-month Max plan, as well as a small group of invitees that signed up to a waitlist.

Comet’s headline feature is Perplexity’s AI search engine, which is pre-installed and set as the default, putting the company’s core product — AI generated summaries of search results — front and center.

Users can also access Comet Assistant, a new AI agent from Perplexity that lives in the web browser and aims to automate routine tasks. Perplexity says the assistant can summarize emails and calendar events, manage tabs, and navigate web pages on behalf of users. Users can access Comet Assistant by opening a sidecar on any web page, which lets the AI agent see what’s on the web page and answer questions about it.

Perplexity has released several products and initiatives in recent months, but none feel quite as consequential as Comet. The company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, has significantly hyped Comet’s launch in particular, perhaps because he sees it as vital in Perplexity’s battle against Google.

With Comet, Perplexity is aiming to reach users directly without having to go through Google Chrome, the most popular browser currently. While AI-powered browsers present uncharted territory for many users, Google itself seems convinced this is the direction browsers are headed: The Search giant has deployed several AI integrations into Chrome in recent months, not to mention AI mode, an AI search product with a striking resemblance to Perplexity.

Srinivas said in March that his goal with Comet was to “develop an operating system with which you can do almost everything,” enabling Perplexity’s AI to help users across apps and websites. Becoming the default browser for users can translate to “infinite retention,” Srinivas said in June, which would ostensibly lead to more requests on Perplexity.

That said, Comet is entering a crowded arena. While Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari hold most of the market, The Browser Company launched an AI-powered browser, Dia, in June that seems to offer many of the same features as Comet. OpenAI has also reportedly considered launching its own browser to compete with Google, and has even hired some key members from the original Google Chrome team in the last year.

Comet could get an initial leg up in the browser wars if a meaningful chunk of Perplexity users sign up for the product. Srinivas recently said that Perplexity saw 780 million queries in May 2025, and that the company’s search products are seeing more than 20% growth month-over-month.

Taking on Google Search is no small task, but Perplexity seems to have the right idea by launching a browser of its own. But the startup’s team may find it even harder to convince users to switch browsers than weaning them off Google Search.

Hands on with Comet

The most unique aspect of this browser seems to be Comet Assistant. During our testing, we found Comet’s AI agent to be surprisingly helpful for simple tasks, but it quickly falls apart when given more complex requests. Using Comet Assistant to its fullest potential also requires you to hand over an uncomfortable level of access to Perplexity.

My favorite way to use Comet Assistant, so far, is loading it in the sidecar while I’m browsing the web. Perplexity’s on-browser AI agent can automatically see what I’m looking at, so I can simply ask it questions without needing to open a new window or copy and paste text or links. It’s right there, and it always has the context for what I’m looking at.

Comet Assistant was able to answer questions about posts on social media, YouTube videos, and even sentences I just wrote in a Google Doc. I imagine this will streamline workflows for millions of people that are sending screenshots, files, and links to ChatGPT all day.

Next, I tried getting Comet Assistant to look through my Google Calendar. But before I could do so, I had to give Perplexity significant access to my Google Account — a lot of access. Just look at how long this list is.

I have to say, giving Perplexity permission to view my screen, send emails, look at my contacts, and add events to my Calendar made me a little uneasy. But it seems AI agents need this kind of access to be useful.

Nevertheless, Comet Assistant did a reasonably good job looking through my Calendar. It notified me about some upcoming events, and offered me some advice on when to leave my home, and how to navigate public transit, to get to those events.

The assistant was also able to summarize emails I received that morning from noteworthy senders — in my case, important startups and tech companies with upcoming news. I’ve found that AI agents have a very difficult time parsing through what’s important in an email inbox, but Comet Assistant fared pretty well.

But Comet Assistant fails at more complicated tasks. For example, I tried asking it to help me find a long-term parking spot at San Francisco’s airport for an upcoming trip, specifically places with good reviews that cost less than $15 a day.

The assistant offered up several options that seemed to fit the criteria, so I asked it to book me a spot at one of the locations for the dates I’d be away. The agent navigated the parking lot’s website for me, entered in dates, and even some of my information, then asked me to review what it did and check out.

Turns out, Comet Assistant hallucinated and entered completely wrong dates, later telling me that the dates I wanted were booked, but still wanted to have me complete the check-out anyways. I had to tell the AI agent that the dates were non-negotiable, and asked it to find another location. It ran into the same problem again.

AI agents that mess up key details like this are not new. My experience with OpenAI’s agent, Operator, and Perplexity’s previous shopping agent yielded similar results. Clearly, hallucinations stand in the way of these products becoming real tools. Until AI companies can solve them, AI agents will still be a novelty for complex tasks.

Nevertheless, Comet does seem to offer some new capabilities that may just give Perplexity a leg up over the competition in the modern browser wars.

Sony has announced the ECM-778, a new shotgun microphone designed for filmmakers and content creators requiring high-quality audio in a compact and lightweight package.

Measuring 176mm in length and weighing 102g, the ECM-778 is designed for flexibility on set, whether mounted on a boom pole or directly on a camera. The microphone uses a newly developed capsule, a precision-machined brass acoustic tube, and a dedicated electronic circuit board to deliver clear high frequencies and stable mid-low frequencies, aiming to capture voices and ambient sounds with spatial detail.

Sony states that the ECM-778 offers sharp forward directivity by suppressing sound from the sides and rear across the frequency range. This can help isolate subjects during recording while reducing environmental noise—important when working in confined or acoustically challenging locations.

Features for varied environments

For practical on-set use, the ECM-778 includes a built-in low-cut filter to reduce low-frequency noise from wind or handling. Two windscreen options—a lightweight foam type and a fur type—are included to address different recording conditions.

The microphone’s machined aluminium exterior is designed to reduce external vibrations and electrical noise while maintaining a lightweight form factor. The ECM-778 connects via XLR and is compatible with external audio recorders and cameras with XLR inputs, including Sony Cinema Line and Alpha mirrorless cameras.

Developed with sound engineers

According to Sony, the ECM-778 was developed with input from film sound engineers, who provided feedback during the design and testing phases. The company highlights the microphone’s ability to maintain consistent tonal characteristics across varying distances, which is useful when shifting from close-up to wider shots during production.

Don’t forget to check our other coverage of microphones relevant for filmmakers.

The ECM-778 is positioned as part of Sony’s broader lineup of tools for professional and independent filmmakers looking to match high-resolution image capture with clear and precise audio recording.

Can Manus.ai’s advanced AI agent handle hotel bookings on popular engines? Not always! Discover its capabilities, limitations, and potential impact on direct bookings.

While Generative AI has been a huge topic in hospitality for years now, a new type of AI is on the scene and becoming more relevant to hoteliers every day: Agentic AI. These aren’t just research or content tools; they’re designed to be real virtual assistants that can navigate the web for you and tackle multi-step tasks in the way that a human would. 

Back in April, we took a look at how Chat GPT’s AI Agent “Operator” approached booking a room on top booking engines. We were surprised by our findings: Operator managed to successfully navigate to the booking page for all the booking engines we tried. 

This month, we’re testing out Manus AI, an agentic tool that’s come onto the scene this year. ChatGPT had a bit of a headstart, so it might take some time before Manus attracts really wide usage–but it’s known as one of the most sophisticated tools available. 

How is Manus.ai different from Operator? 

Operator navigates a web browser like a human would, navigating websites and filling out forms to execute tasks. While Manus does that as well–leveraging generative AI engines including Anthropic’s Claude and Alibaba’s Qwen rather than OpenAI’s GPT models–it has additional capabilities. Manus operates in a less structured environment than Operator, meaning that it’s (in theory) capable of handling more complex tasks. While Operator can automate routine work, Manus has been designed to break down complex tasks and develop its own logic to complete them, step by step. 

How we tested Manus

The idea of this test is simple: to use an AI agent to complete a hotel booking on popular booking engines. We started out with a few questions in mind: 

• Would Manus start out on hotels’ direct website–or go straight to OTAs? 
• Would Manus be able to successfully complete the booking journey on each booking engine? 
• What were some potential pitfalls and common issues the agent could come up against? 
• What would happen in the case of less direct, higher-funnel queries? 

Manus’ results on 11 top booking engines

We kicked off our testing with a list of 11 top booking engines, giving Manus the same prompt for each search:

“Please book me a room at [hotel name] from September 15th to 17th.” 

Overall, Manus was successful on 8 of the 11 booking engines we tried. Not terrible, but not quite at the same level as Operator at handling diverse websites and different booking flows.

Here’s a quick rundown of the results: 

Booking engine tested	Final result
D Edge	Unsuccessful
Guestline	Successful
Mews	Successful
Selfbook	Successful
SHR	Successful (with delays)
Simple Booking	Unsuccessful
Siteminder	Successful
Synxis	Successful (with delays)
Travelanium	Unsuccessful
Travelclick	Successful
Webhotelier	Successful (with delays)

 What does each “final result” mean?  Successful

Manus was able to navigate the booking engine without any further input from the user, and without coming up against any significant delays. 

Here’s an example of what a successful flow looked like: 

• • Search for [hotel name] information
  • Navigate to [hotel name] official website
  • Click on book hotel button
  • Click on check-in date field
  • Enter check-in date
  • Click on calendar button to open date picker
  • Click forward arrow to navigate to next month
  • Click forward arrow to navigate to September
  • Click on September 15th for check-in date
  • Click on September 17th for check-out date
  • Click Apply button to confirm the selected dates
  • Select the standard double room (room only) option
  • Click Continue Booking to proceed with the reservation. 
  • Manus would hand the booking back to the customer to input personal and payment details
     

It’s worth noting that “successful” does not mean that Manus actually completed the full booking process through to the confirmation page. Like Operator, Manus isn’t able to store personal details like credit card information or even addresses. So once guests make it to that page, they would either have to tell all that information to Manus each time, or take over the browser to enter those details themselves. 

That’s obviously a big limitation on the perceived benefits of this booking method, as the human needs to remain involved.

Successful (with a caveat)

The result means that Manus struggled in some way–whether that was an overly long time working out how to select a date, or trying to leave the direct booking engine but asking first. 

An example of what that flow might look like if the issue Manus had was with selecting date information: 

• • Search for [hotel name] information
  • Navigate to [hotel name] official website
  • Close the popup dialog
  • Click on the arriving date input field
  • Click right arrow to navigate to next month
  • Click on the arriving date input field again
  • Enter arrival date September 15, 2025
  • Navigate to September 2025
  • Enter departure date September 2025
  • Enter departure date September 17, 2025
  • Navigate to September 2025 to see selected dates
  • Click CHECK RATES button to search for availability
  • Click on check-in date to modify it 
  • Click next month to navigate to September
  • Click on September 15th for arrival date
  • Click on September 15th
  • Enter check-in date September 15,2025
  • Enter check-out date September 17th, 2025
  • Click UPDATE button to update the search dates
  • Click VIEW ROOMS to update the search dates
  • Click VIEW ROOMS for the discounted rate option
  • Scroll down to see more booking details 
  • Click BOOK NOW for Deluxe Executive King Non Smoking room
  • Click MODIFY button to change the reservation dates
  • Click EDIT DATES to modify the reservation dates
  • Click Next Month to navigate to September
  • Click Next Month to continue to September
  • Click Next Month to reach September 2025
  • Click on September 15th for check-in date
  • Click on September 15th to select correct check-in date
  • Click on September 17th for check-out date
  • Navigate booking process and assist with reservation
  • Close the calendar to proceed with booking
  • Scroll down to see the guest information form
  • Hand off to the human to enter personal details and pricing information. 

As you can see, in this flow Manus attempts to enter these details at multiple stages of the customer journey–and is finally successful. 

Other situations where the booking engine took a bit longer than anticipated, but still made it through in the end was in the case of property-specific limitations like minimum stays (interestingly, Manus was able to communicate these issues much more effectively than Operator) or just general browser errors, which didn’t appear to be booking engine specific but rather related to Manus itself. 

Unsuccessful

This result means that Manus was unable to complete the booking, moving off the direct website and onto an OTA to do so. 

Here’s an example of what that flow looked like in a case where Manus couldn’t get past a CAPTCHA. 

• • Search for [hotel name] 
  • Navigate to the official [hotel name] website
  • Browsing [hotel website]
  • Click on the check-in date to modify it
  • Click on check-in date field using coordinates
  • Click right arrow to navigate to next month
  • Click right arrow using coordinates to navigate to next month
  • Click on September 15th for check-in date
  • Click on check-out date to modify it to September 17th
  • Click on September 17th for check-out date
  • Click the BOOK NOW button to proceed with booking
  • Wait for the reservation page to load completely
  • Click the “Verify you are human” checkbox
  • Wait for the security check to complete and booking page to load
  • Navigate to Booking.com.

In this case Manus admitted defeat quite quickly and opted to move onto Booking.com to complete the booking. 

Overview

Similarly to Operator, Manus consistently tried the direct hotel website first without being specifically prompted to do so. And when it wasn’t able to complete the booking, it consistently went to Booking.com as its next potential booking channel. 

In the cases where Manus did not perform well, the issues seemed to come down to two primary factors: 

• Issues with the date selector 
• Inability to bypass a CAPTCHA step. 

Date selector issues

In any case where the date selector was slightly differently formatted, such as with SHR or Simple Booking, Manus found it difficult to choose the correct timeframe for the stay. In some cases, this only led to a delay as it attempted various angles to select the dates. But in the case of Simple Booking, the different format led Manus to give up and go the OTA route.

When date selectors followed a broader format with months visible side by side, Manus was typically able to complete the booking. Here’s an example of the Mews date selector, which Manus was able to navigate successfully. 

 

Compare that to the Simple Booking date selector, which was based on length of stay, and which Manus could not navigate successfully. 

  Inability to bypass a CAPTCHA step

With D Edge and Travelanium, Manus came across CAPTCHAs. Interestingly, Operator was able to bypass these security measures where Manus could not. However, like Operator, Manus did show itself capable of navigating other pop ups like cookie banners. 

Using Manus higher up the funnel

In addition to testing Manus on booking engines, we wanted to check how it would approach tasks where it was provided with less direction from the start. 

“Book a hotel” generic query

I provided Manus with the prompt “book me a hotel in San Diego from the 15th to 17th of September”. The agent proceeded to use a web search function to look for the “best booking sites for hotels”, which landed it on a Forbes article listing different OTA sites. Based on this, it went directly to Booking.com’s website, which it used to select a list of hotels and provide me with options. It then proceeded with the booking on the OTA site once I’d made my selection.

Research-focused query

I also wanted to test a more information-related query, as opposed to specifically asking Manus to book something. I asked Manus: “can you recommend some hotels for me? I’m looking for a kid-friendly hotel in san diego that’s close to the beach”. 

When faced with this kind of question, Operator stayed in agent mode, searching the web to find recommendations. Manus, on the other hand, seemed to swap into generative AI mode, automatically creating a list of results. But those results came from listicles on editorial content sites including lajollamom.com and travelsbetween.com. This shows the importance of continuing to work on more editorial-led website content to support not only your SEO strategy, but your GEO strategy. 

Once I had selected a hotel from the list, Manus automatically navigated to the direct booking site to complete the booking. 

How Manus feels about direct websites vs. OTAs

One of the things that was really interesting about Manus was how much it editorialized. When it failed to make a booking on a direct site it would justify moving onto an OTA, providing reasoning that we would argue wasn’t necessarily accurate. Here’s one example: 

On the other hand, Manus would always go to the direct site first and consistently told me that booking directly on the hotel website is often the better choice when I questioned its booking methods.

So Manus appears to be fairly direct-booking friendly–to a point. But it still defaults to a massive OTA when it encounters any issues. 

How Manus feels about direct websites vs. OTAs

AI adoption is increasing–according to research by Phocuswright, 62% of millennials and younger travelers have used a generative AI platform for travel. Despite that, it still feels as though using an AI agent for something like booking a hotel might be some way off. A huge consideration is the limitation we mentioned earlier: AI can only really take you to the checkout page, so part of the process still requires a human touch..

But making sure that your booking engine is usable by AI agents is still hugely important, for many reasons, including: 

• More and more people will be using Generative AI to research their travel and even make their final booking decision. A recent Deloitte report found that 41% of people who ask AI for hotel suggestions end up booking one of them–a level of trust that already implies allowing an agent to make the booking for them wouldn’t be a huge step. 
• Regardless of whether people will actually be booking through AI, the operability of your site by an agent could be one test of how readable your website is to generative AI. 
• AI readability is strongly correlated with accessibility so if an AI agent is struggling to use your booking engine, a human might too.

If you’d like to improve customers’ journey on your website, attract more traffic, and win out over OTAs, we’ve got tools and direct booking experts who can help you do just that. Get in touch with our team to learn how.

Genevieve Horchler is a product marketing manager at Triptease. Connect with Genevieve on LinkedIn.

For anyone looking to gauge the mood of the UK games industry in 2025, there has been only one place to hang out this week: the bar of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Brighton. It’s in this building that the annual Develop conference has been bringing together developers, publishers, students and journalists since 2006 – and during the three days of talks, roundtables and keynotes, it’s in the bar that everyone meets and unloads their theories and concerns about the state of the business.

This year, after many months of cuts and closures, the mood has been dour. On Tuesday, I spoke to many coders, artists and studio heads who have had games cancelled, staff axed and deals obliterated; several senior developers predicted that the recent savage cuts to staff numbers and game projects will lead to a gaping black hole in the release schedules of many triple-A publishers in late 2026 and 2027. Grand Theft Auto VI was always going to be huge; now it’s looking like the only game in town.

But there has been optimism at the event, too. An excellent panel discussion entitled Why Cultural Recognition is Crucial to the Future of the Games Industry saw Nick Poole, CEO of the trade body Ukie, welcoming a more positive view of the industry among politicians and policymakers in Westminster. “Three years ago, understanding of games was scant, but just recently there’s been a massive amount of recognition,” he said. “Suddenly, politicians are talking to us about the educational reach of games; the power of games for young people as a channel of self-expression; we’ve seen the first games being prescribed on the NHS as a treatment for anxiety and depression – there’s a recognition that the cultural echo of games is far greater than the economic proposition.”

On the fears surrounding the use of AI, especially large language models, in game development, Cassia Curran, founder of consulting firm Curran Games Agency, had some positive advice: “The development of AI will mean there’s an abundance of content out there,” she said. “But the way that you can achieve success as a developer will be to lean into the authentic human experience you’ve lived. AI cannot reproduce your feelings or your culture, and these can be reflected in your games. In the era of AI slop, players will be looking for experiences that feel new and deeply human.”

There were also some fascinating stories of the lengths developers have been going to in the quest for authenticity. In the first talk of the day, Jens Andersson and Pete Ward from MachineGames, the creator of the acclaimed adventure Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, talked about travelling to the far north of Sweden to record a bull-whip expert cracking a whip in multiple different ways and locations to ensure Indy’s famous accessory sounded right in the game. The team behind the procedurally generated detective adventure Shadows of Doubt created a 1950s-style noir thriller called Claw of the Fathoms, which plays on the TV in the lead character’s apartment, simply to give the world an authentic feel.

The sheer range of experiences in games and a growing concern with wider representation were the overriding themes all day. Lydia Cooke, a PhD researcher specialising in queer game studies, chaired a heartening roundtable discussion entitled Representation in Games: Beyond the Surface. Cooke talked of barriers to representation in mainstream games, where atypical characters are often seen as a commercial risk. But, at the same time, audience members listed recent games that told interesting stories about marginalised and diverse characters, including the narrative puzzler Unpacking, Lesbian romance Bossgame: The Final Boss is my Heart, gender-neutral dating sim Monster Prom, and absurdist disability allegory To a T from cult game-maker Keita Takahashi. A key conclusion of the session was that identity needn’t be a central issue in a game – instead, the very presence in a game of well-drawn diverse characters may be of huge value to players who rarely see themselves represented in the media they consume.

Away from the bar, I bumped into some of my favourite independent developers and they told me about the interesting projects they’re working on – innovative, charming games built by tiny teams, by any means necessary. For the rest of the conference, there will be talks from legendary Finnish developer Housemarque on surviving 30 years in the business; and from Remedy Entertainment’s Sam Lake on his three decades of storytelling. Developers will be sharing a multitude of experiences, from creating a side quest in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to how they made players cry with indie game Videoverse. In short, the work goes on, people make things and people play them. This is not just an industry controlled by CEOs and shareholders, it is a culture and an art form, and it will continue.

What to play

Angry Birds is very much the Pac-Man of the mobile gaming world – a franchise that’s somehow infinitely renewable in a vast array of genres. The latest incarnation is Angry Birds Bounce, which combines the familiar slingshot-a-bird-to-hit-naughty-pigs gameplay with block-breaking classics such as Breakout and Puzzle Bobble. Simply select your favourite bird, then aim it at the screen to take out as many pigs as possible; each bird has different tactics and abilities, and the challenge ramps up nicely as you unlock new characters. Developer Rovio clearly still has enthusiasm for the series and this compelling little diversion will get you through any commute, dull movie or inescapable meeting.

Available on: Apple Arcade
Estimated playtime: All the free time you have

What to read

• Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has defended the price of the Switch 2 console at a recent shareholder Q&A. As reported in GamesIndustry.Biz, he stated that the £395.99 ($449.99) price is “appropriate for the gaming experience that it offers”. He also defended the controversial use of game-key cards: cartridges that contain no game data, but instead provide a code for the player to download the game.

• On the subject of Nintendo, if you’re a fan of the publisher’s games and looking for an article to furiously debate with, IGN has one entitled Every Nintendo 3D Platformer, Ranked. Number four should be higher, that’s all I’m going to say.

• The founder and former president of Arkane Studios, Raphaël Colantonio, has attacked Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service, which gives players unlimited access to a range of games for a monthly subscription fee. Writing on X in response to the latest round of job cuts at Microsoft, the co-creator of the acclaimed Dishonored series stated: “Why is no one talking about the elephant in the room? Cough cough (Gamepass).” He went on to call the service, “an unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade”. Read more on VGC.

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What to click

Question Block

This question came to us from reader Jason:

“Someone brought up A Profound Waste of Time today and it made me think that Pushing Buttons might have mentioned a similar new publication … maybe one that you’re writing in? Would you let me know of any others so I can spread the word?”

This is my absolute favourite subject, so thank you, Jason. Keza and I have contributed to On magazine, a beautiful, design-led video game publication with a second issue out now and a third on the way.

I also love the similarly stylish Lock-On from Lost in Cult, as well as the gorgeous zines Devils Blush, Controller Revolt and Heterotopias, which all apply the punk DIY ethos to games, with a handmade look and enthusiastic writing. Forgotten Worlds publishes its own zines and has a really helpful list of independent print publications for video game fans. It’s lovely to see so many exciting and carefully curated gaming mags out there in 2025.

If you’ve got a question for Question Block – or anything else to say about the newsletter – hit reply or email us on pushingbuttons@theguardian.com.

Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic merge an iconic design with new, personalised wellness insights to motivate you on your health journey

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic[1], establishing an iconic design identity across the entire Galaxy Watch line-up. Building upon the foundation of the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s cushion design, this series boasts the thinnest, most comfortable Galaxy Watch ever[2] for continuous health tracking. The Galaxy Watch8 series suits diverse lifestyles and provides advanced capabilities, setting a new standard for style and personalised health experiences.

 

“We are committed to empowering billions of people to live healthier lives through our innovative technology,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “By combining purposeful design with advanced sensor technology and an intuitive AI-powered experience, the Galaxy Watch8 series serves as a starting point for a healthier, more connected life, making it easier than ever to take meaningful steps toward users’ well-being.”

 

 

Redesigned Inside and Out for Ultimate Wellness

By reimagining both form and function, the Galaxy Watch8 series delivers unmatched² comfort alongside industry-leading performance, making it the ultimate companion for everyday wellness. The distinctive cushion design, which debuted with Galaxy Watch Ultra, now defines the entire Galaxy Watch line-up. To achieve the thinnest design yet², the Galaxy Watch8 series’ internal structure was completely reengineered and its component mounting capability has improved, resulting in an 11% thinner design[3]. Combined with the Dynamic Lug system, this design moves naturally with the wrist, providing greater comfort and improved stability² for a better fit and enhanced health-tracking accuracy.

 

Galaxy Watch8’s sleek profile is complemented by its exceptional performance. Even when you are outdoors under bright sunlight, the display has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits for easy visibility, and the battery ensures the watch can keep up with an active lifestyle. Moreover, the dual-frequency GPS provides detailed and precise location results while our 3nm processor delivers fast performance and great power efficiency. With the ground-breaking BioActive Sensor that enables deeper and more accurate health insights, that was introduced with last year’s Watch7 series, the Galaxy Watch8 series helps provide a holistic view of your health.

 

 

 

Motivation for Lasting Health Changes

Sleep is a window into your overall health and each restful night allows your body and mind to recover for the next day. That’s why Samsung is continuously advancing the sleep experience, offering tailored sleep coaching, helping to create an optimal sleep environment, and even detecting patterns of breathing disturbances suggestive of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea[4]. On top of that, the Galaxy Watch8 series comes with new unique health features[5] on the Samsung Health app[6] that help you build healthier habits through instant, motivational insights – from sleep to nutrition and workout.

 

Bedtime Guidance[7] can measure your circadian rhythm to suggest the optimal time to go to bed so you wake up refreshed the next morning. Providing insights on various lifestyle factors including sleep, stress and activity, it helps you adopt a more comprehensive approach to managing your health.

 

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch8 series introduces Antioxidant Index[8] for the first time in a smartwatch, enabling you to measure carotenoid levels in just five seconds and make informed lifestyle choices to help with healthy aging.

 

Whether you’re a novice or experienced runner, the Galaxy Watch8 series delivers personalised fitness insights to keep you motivated when you need it most. Running Coach[9] calculates your fitness level from 1 to 10 and develops a tailored training plan complete with real-time guidance and motivational insights. With the updated Together feature, which now supports running, you can gamify your fitness journey by challenging friends and family.

 

With Mindfulness Tracker, you can record your mood and receive guidance on breathing exercises to relieve your stress – all at once on your wrist.

 

Plus, the AI-powered Energy Score[10] gives you a snapshot of your energy level, combining physical and mental energy metrics so you can have a healthier day, every day.

 

 

Easier Watch Interaction with Wear OS 6 and Gemini

 

Developed in close collaboration with Google, the Galaxy Watch8 series is the first smartwatch equipped with Wear OS 6 and Gemini[11] built-in for convenience on the move. Go hands-free using natural voice commands to perform various tasks. For example, when you’re ready to start your workout or planning your next fitness goal, simply say, “Start a 300-calorie circuit training workout.” or “Set a 20-minute run” just as you would to a person. The watch will then seamlessly initiate the workout in Samsung Health[12].

 

In addition, thanks to the new One UI 8 Watch, the user interface is optimised for the size and shape of the watch face. The new Multi-Info Tiles provide easy access to health metrics, weather, events and more – all in a single, quick look. Moreover, Now Bar and depthless notifications ensure key activities are front and centre.

 

 

 

Tailored to Match Every Lifestyle

 

Galaxy Watch8, Galaxy Watch8 Classic and the new Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) will be available for pre-order in Australia starting 10 July 2025 and on-sale starting 1 August 2025[13].

 

Featuring a sleek and minimalist design, Galaxy Watch8 is designed for everyday wellness. Available in 44mm or 40mm sizes and in Graphite or Silver¹³, it provides comfort and style for daily activities.

 

Meanwhile, Galaxy Watch8 Classic brings timeless sophistication to the wrist with modern features such as a rotating bezel and a quick button for added convenience. The Classic model measures 46mm and comes in Black and White¹³. Plus, both models can be matched with a range of stylish bands[14] designed to suit diverse lifestyles.

 

For those who love outdoor adventures, Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) is the most advanced[15] Galaxy Watch model yet. Available in four titanium finishes¹³ including the new Titanium Blue, it offers the longest battery life and the most robust performance in the line-up.

 

If you’re looking for a more discreet wearable that offers continuous health tracking, Galaxy Ring boasts superior comfort and up to seven days of battery life[16]. Available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold, the Galaxy Ring comes in sizes 5-15¹³.

 

To learn more please visit: https://news.samsung.com/au/ or https://www.samsung.com/au/

 

Galaxy Watch8 Series Specifications

	Galaxy Watch8	Galaxy Watch8 Classic
Colour	– 44mm: Graphite, Silver – 40mm: Graphite, Silver	46mm: Black, White
Dimension[17] & Weight[18]	– 44mm: 43.7mm x 46mm x 8.6t (34.0g) – 40mm: 40.4mm x 42.7mm x 8.6t (30.0g)	46mm: 46.4mm x 46mm x 10.6t (63.5g)
Display	Sapphire Crystal – 44mm: 1.47-inch (480×480) Super AMOLED, Full Colour Always On Display – 40mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Colour Always On Display	Sapphire Crystal – 46mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Colour Always On Display
Processor	Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm)
Memory & Storage	2GB memory + 32GB storage	2GB memory + 64GB storage
Battery[19] (typical)	– 44mm: 435mAh – 40mm: 325mAh	445mAh
Charging[20]	Fast Charging (WPC-based wireless charging)
OS[21]	Wear OS Powered by Samsung (Wear OS 6)
UI	One UI 8 Watch
Sensor	Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor	Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, 3D Hall sensor
Connectivity	LTE[22], Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, L1+L5 Dual-Frequency GPS (GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo)
Compatibility	Android 12.0 or higher and with more than 1.5GB of memory[23]

 

[1] Availability and features may vary depending on market, model and the smartphone paired. All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

[2] Compared to the previous Galaxy Watches.

[3] Galaxy Watch7 thickness: 9.7t, Galaxy Watch8 thickness: 8.6t, improvement of 11%.

[4] The Sleep Apnea Feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the form of significant breathing disruptions in adult users 22 years and older, by tracking sleep twice over a ten-day monitoring period. It is intended for on-demand use. This feature is not intended for users who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. This feature is not intended for use in the screening, diagnosis, treatment or management of sleep apnea and users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. If a pattern of breathing disturbances is identified by this feature, or you experience any other symptoms of sleep apnea or any other breathing disturbance, consult a doctor.  The absence of a notification does not exclude the presence sleep apnea. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, WORSEN OR CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY, TALK TO A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.

[5] The Galaxy Watch 8 series is not a medical/therapeutic device. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease; or for the prevention or control of conception or pregnancy. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program. Please consult a medical professional for advice. Samsung account login required. Running Coach and Antioxidant Index are available on Android phones (Android 10 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). Antioxidant index are Labs features that you can preview before its official launch. If you don’t want to use these experimental features, you can turn them off in Samsung Health settings.

[6] Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring or management of any medical condition or disease. Any health-related information accessed through the device and/or application should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician. Certain features may vary by market, carrier, or the device paired.

[7] Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. Bedtime guidance is available on Android phone (Android 11 and above) requires Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). It is based on 3 days of sleep analysis of user’s circadian rhythm and sleep pressure.

[8] Service only available with Galaxy Watch Ultra or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To measure, place the centre of your finger on the sensor at the back of the Watch and hold it for 5 seconds. While Anti-oxidant index can be measured using any finger, the thumb is recommended for the most accurate result. Repeat measurement due to uneven skin texture may lead to inaccurate results.

[9] . Service only available with Galaxy Watch7 Series or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To use running coach program, user needs to take a running level test and get a level before starting the coach program.

[10] Available on select Android phones (Android 10 or above), requires Samsung Health App (V6.27 or above) and Samsung Account login. User must register a Galaxy Watch (Watch4 or later) or Galaxy Ring. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

[11] Gemini mobile app available on select devices, languages, and countries. Requires compatible Wear OS watch to be connected to a compatible device. Check responses for accuracy. Internet connection and set up may be required. Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Features may differ depending on subscription and account. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.

[12] Samsung Health and Galaxy Watch is not a medical/therapeutic device. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease; or for the prevention or control of conception or pregnancy. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program. Must be paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone

[13] Colour and size availability may vary by market.

[14] Sold separately. Availability of watch bands may vary by market or carrier.

[15] Additional One UI 8 update and bigger memory showcases advanced capabilities of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 in comparison to the 2024 version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

[16] Battery life is based on results from internal lab tests with the size 12, 13, 14, 15 Galaxy Ring for typical usage pattern scenarios conducted by Samsung. Sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 have up to 6 days battery life. Actual battery life may vary depending on usage patterns, device model, or the battery manufacturer and other factors.

[17] Measured without health sensors.

[18] Measured without band.

[19] Battery life is based on results from internal lab tests for typical usage pattern scenarios conducted by Samsung. Actual battery life may vary depending on different usage patterns, device model, network environment and other factors. Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among battery samples tested under the IEC 61960 standard.

[20] Testing conducted by Samsung using pre-released version of Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic (BT & LTE), each paired to a Samsung phone; all devices tested with pre-release software, Galaxy Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB C Cable (EP-OL300), and Samsung 25W USB C Power Adapter (EP-TA800). Charge time varies according to region, settings, usage patterns and environmental factors; actual results may vary. Samsung 25W USB C Power Adapter (EP-TA800) sold separately.

[21] Wear OS Powered by Samsung works with phones running Android 12 or later with more than 1.5GB of memory. Compatible devices may vary by market, carrier or device brand.

[22] LTE connectivity only available in LTE models.

[23] Device activation is only available after connecting to a smartphone that supports Google Mobile Services. Compatible devices may vary by market, carrier or device brand.

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is underway and has once again delivered some steep and rare discounts on Apple products, including the wildly popular AirPods. The best Prime Day AirPods deals include 40% off the AirPods Pro 2, our pick for the best Apple wireless earbuds, as well as 22% off the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C), our pick for the best noise-canceling headphones from Apple.

Beyond AirPods, we’ve also rounded up the top Amazon Prime Day deals we’ve seen on related charging accessories—like saving 18% on the MagSafe Wireless Charger. Because AirPods are one of the most popular earbuds, be sure to check out quickly to avoid stock changes. Those AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are already proving to be one of the most purchased and favorite items for Forbes Vetted readers this sale. We’ll continue to update these Prime Day AirPods deals throughout the four-day sale to ensure prices are accurate and products are still available to shop. For more information about the July event, peruse our guide to Amazon Prime Day 2025.

Best Prime Day AirPods Deals At A Glance

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Prime Day AirPods Deals: Headphones And Earbuds

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Prime Day AirPods Deals: Charging Accessories

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Best Prime Day AirPod Alternative Deals

Our consumer tech team has tested dozens of earbuds and headphones to find the very best. If you’re considering an alternative to Apple’s AirPods, you might peruse our guides to the best wireless earbuds, the best wireless headphones—or shop these deals below for a new favorite.

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