Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
Google is currently experiencing a widespread outage affecting several of its core services, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, and other Workspace tools.
According to a status update from Google, the issue began at approximately 3:10 pm and is causing delays and error messages across multiple platforms.
By 4:30pm, outage reports had peaked, with hundreds of users logging problems on DownDetector, a site that tracks service disruptions.
The problems extend to key services such as Google Docs, Google Chat, and Google Analytics, with many users unable to access or load content.
In a brief update, Google confirmed:
“Various Workspace services are experiencing elevated latency and error rates.”
Users have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share their frustrations. One user wrote: “Google would go down on a Friday lol — like this couldn’t wait ‘til Monday?” Another joked: “Google Drive is down? Well, my work day is over then.”
As of now, Google has not confirmed the cause of the outage or when full service will be restored.
Netflix confirms first use of generative AI in visual effects for Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut.
AI helped complete a key building collapse scene 10 times faster than traditional methods.
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says AI is a tool to enhance creativity, not replace artists.
Move comes amid ongoing debate in the industry over AI’s role and job implications.
Netflix has confirmed using artificial intelligence to generate final visual effects footage for the first time in one of its original shows. The streaming giant revealed that generative AI was used to create a dramatic building collapse in the upcoming Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut, enabling the scene to be completed significantly faster and more cost-effectively than with traditional VFX tools.
The Eternaut brings Argentina’s legendary sci-fi comic to life using new AI toolsInstagram/theeternaut.netflix
Why did Netflix use AI for The Eternaut?
Netflix turned to generative AI to tackle budget limitations while producing the ambitious sci-fi series The Eternaut, which follows survivors of a toxic snowfall in Buenos Aires. According to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, the AI-powered tools enabled the VFX team to complete a complex building collapse sequence at a fraction of the usual time and cost.
Speaking during the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Sarandos said the scene was finished “10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional workflows.” He added, “The cost just wouldn’t have been feasible for a show in that budget.” Netflix collaborated with Eyeline Studios, its in-house production team, to deliver the final footage.
The use of AI in The Eternaut marks a pivotal shift in how streaming platforms may approach content creation. While AI has already been used in pre-visualisation and shot planning, this is the first instance where Netflix deployed it for final VFX output in a show.
Sarandos described the AI tools as an “incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper.” He emphasised that real people were still behind the work, using AI to enhance, not replace their craft. “This is real people doing real work with better tools,” he said.
The successful integration of generative AI could open doors for smaller productions to achieve high-end visuals without blockbuster budgets, levelling the playing field in an increasingly competitive market.
Netflix’s announcement comes amid ongoing industry concerns about the role of AI in filmmaking. In 2023, both Hollywood writers and actors went on strike, with AI being a central issue. Unions demanded protections to ensure that AI would not be used to replace human talent or exploit existing creative works without consent.
While Netflix presents its use of AI as a creative aid, many in the industry remain sceptical. Critics argue that relying on AI could devalue craftsmanship and threaten jobs in areas like screenwriting, visual effects, and animation.
The backlash has already had real-world effects. Filmmaker Tyler Perry famously paused a £634 million (₹6,700 crore) studio expansion due to uncertainty over AI’s long-term impact on jobs and creative processes.
Beyond production, Netflix is exploring how AI can improve the user experience. Co-CEO Greg Peters hinted at future developments, suggesting that AI could enhance content discovery through more natural, conversational search queries. For instance, users could soon find shows by describing mood, genre, or era.
Additionally, Peters mentioned that generative AI could be used to streamline ad creation, potentially reducing costs for advertisers while maintaining relevance for viewers.
Netflix’s decision to embrace AI in production, particularly in a high-visibility series like The Eternaut, signals that the technology is here to stay. But as the platform moves forward, it faces growing pressure to balance innovation with ethical responsibility.
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Fitbit Charge 6 now available for £72 — the lowest price to date
Original retail price: £125
Includes ECG, heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, and a 7-day battery
What is the Fitbit Charge 6 and why is it still relevant?
Launched in 2023 by Google, the Fitbit Charge 6 remains a compelling choice for users wanting a feature-rich fitness tracker without committing to a full-blown smartwatch. While fitness bands have lost some popularity in favour of affordable smartwatches, the Charge 6 retains its appeal thanks to its health tracking capabilities and long battery life.
Where is the best Fitbit Charge 6 deal right now?
The Charge 6 is currently on sale for just £72 — a significant drop from its original price of £125. This new low applies to brand-new, sealed units in the Porcelain/Silver colour option. The deal makes it one of the most affordable advanced fitness trackers currently available.
What features does the Fitbit Charge 6 include?
Despite its compact form, the Charge 6 includes many premium features:
The electrocardiogram (ECG) function to detect irregular heart rhythms
24/7 heart rate tracking with improved accuracy
Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring
Stress tracking and management tools
Sleep analysis and score
Built-in Google Maps and Google Wallet access
Up to 7-day battery life
Vibrant AMOLED touchscreen display
These functions are typically reserved for more expensive devices, making the Charge 6 especially attractive at this lower price point.
Will there be a Fitbit Charge 7 soon?
There’s no official word yet from Google on a Charge 7 release. The Charge 6 is now nearly two years old, leading to speculation of a possible update. However, the current model still performs strongly and delivers good value, especially for buyers prioritising health features over apps.
Should you consider buying the Fitbit Charge 6?
If you're after a reliable and easy-to-use fitness tracker, this is one of the best options available under £75. While it lacks the broader app support of devices like the Apple Watch, the Charge 6 excels in essentials: battery life, heart health, and ease of use.
It’s suitable for both Android and iPhone users and is ideal for anyone who wants to monitor their wellbeing without the distraction of a more complex device.
This is a limited-time deal, and availability may vary. Buyers are encouraged to act promptly if interested.
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The infant star HOPS-315 showing the first signs of planet formation.
Scientists detect earliest stage of planet formation around star HOPS-315.
Discovery made using data from JWST and ALMA telescopes.
Findings could mirror conditions in our solar system 4.6 billion years ago.
Research published in top journal Nature on 16 July.
In a historic breakthrough, astronomers have captured what they call the “earliest moment” when planets begin to form, not around our Sun, but around a young star named HOPS-315 located about 1,300 light-years away in the Orion constellation. The discovery marks the first time solid mineral grains, the initial seeds of planet formation, have been observed emerging within a protoplanetary disk around a new-born star.
The finding was made possible by the combined power of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The results were published on Wednesday (16 July) in the journal Nature.
An image taken by ALMA showing jets of silicon monoxide (SiO) blowing away from the baby star HOPS-315ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.)
JWST and ALMA uncover the origin of rocky worlds
The team, led by Leiden University astronomer Melissa McClure, used JWST’s high-resolution infrared data and ALMA’s radio imaging to peer through dense clouds of dust surrounding HOPS-315, a protostar weighing about 60% the mass of our Sun.
What they found was unprecedented: crystalline silicates and gaseous silicon monoxide, crucial ingredients for rocky planet formation, beginning to solidify in a zone comparable to our solar system’s asteroid belt. This specific location suggests a likely match to the area in our system where similar minerals first condensed before forming planets.
“We’ve finally captured a glimpse of where Earth-like planets might start their journey,” McClure said. “This is the clearest snapshot of the early stages of planet formation we’ve ever seen.”
The infant star HOPS-315 showing the first signs of planet formation. ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.)
HOPS-315 resembles our solar system’s ‘time zero’
Scientists often rely on ancient meteorites to understand the early solar system, particularly calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs), which are the oldest solid materials known to have formed around the Sun. But direct observation of such a moment elsewhere in the universe had never been achieved, until now.
HOPS-315, still surrounded by its original envelope of dust and gas, is oriented in such a way that astronomers could view its inner disk, a rare alignment that acted like a cosmic window. The young star is currently shooting out jets of material, but researchers confirmed the silicon-based minerals are part of the swirling disk, not the jet.
“This system is like a baby picture of our own solar system,” said Merel van ’t Hoff of Purdue University, a co-author of the study.
A promising model for studying early planet formation
While previous research has often focused on older, cooler planetary disks, this is the first confirmed observation of hot minerals beginning to condense in real time, the critical first step in planetesimal creation. These planetesimals, in turn, grow into planets over millions of years.
Phil Armitage, a theorist from Stony Brook University not involved in the study, said, “The minerals forming around HOPS-315 are consistent with what we’d expect during our solar system’s earliest stage, a fraction of a million years into its birth.”
Though the researchers did not detect CAIs directly, the conditions around HOPS-315 match several leading models of how such minerals emerged in our solar system.
An illustration shows the condensation hot gas condenses into solid minerals around the baby star HOPS-315, the genesis of planets around this star ESO/L. Cal\u00e7ada/ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.)
What’s next? More young stars under the lens
The discovery raises the possibility that other young protostars may also be going through similar processes. One potential target is HOPS-68, previously observed by NASA’s Spitzer telescope. With JWST’s enhanced sensitivity, astronomers now hope to revisit such targets and uncover more examples of planets in their earliest stages.
As McClure notes, “Only about 2% of the silicon we expected was found in the star’s jet. That suggests the rest may already be forming larger rocky bodies within the disk.”
The findings not only provide a window into the origins of our own solar system but also open the door to studying the universal conditions that lead to planet formation.
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The Sage iPhone blocks internet searches and prevents downloads of popular platforms
New iPhone for children removes access to web browsers, games and social media apps
Sage Mobile device costs £99/month, significantly higher than standard contracts
Designed to support "real life" connection and reduce smartphone addiction
Launch coincides with new UK age-verification laws for online pornography
Critics question pricing and accessibility for low-income families
Techless launches Sage iPhone with strict content controls
A new iPhone designed specifically for children has launched in the UK, promising to offer a safer digital experience by stripping out web browsing, gaming, and social media access. Priced at £99 a month, the Sage Mobile device aims to give parents more control over their child’s phone usage, but the high cost is already raising concerns.
The device, marketed by US company Techless, is a modified iPhone 16 that runs custom software designed to severely limit access to distracting or harmful content. Unlike typical handsets, the Sage iPhone blocks internet searches and prevents downloads of popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. The launch reflects growing parental concern around managing children’s digital habits and online safety.
Designed to reduce screen time and promote real-world connection
According to Techless founder Chris Kaspar, the default digital environment on most smartphones is inherently unsafe for children. “Right now they are selling cars without seatbelts,” he said. “We want the defaults to be safe and healthy.”
Kaspar says Sage Mobile is designed to help children "reconnect with real life," rather than simply reduce screen time. The curated app store available on the device only permits access to tools considered essential and educational, such as calendars, banking apps, weather, public transport, and school-related functions. There is no access to a general web browser or app marketplace.
In the US, where a similar model has already been released, average usage among children was reportedly limited to between 15 minutes and an hour per day. This contrasts sharply with UK data, which shows children aged eight to 14 typically spend nearly three hours a day on smartphones.
Coincides with stricter age-verification laws
The launch of the Sage Mobile iPhone comes as the UK prepares to enforce stricter online age verification requirements for accessing pornography. The timing, Techless suggests, is a deliberate response to mounting legislative and public pressure to protect children online.
The high cost of the Sage device — over double that of a standard iPhone on a two-year contract — is explained by the company as a result of the features it removes. Typical handsets rely on data tracking and app downloads for ongoing revenue, which are not present in this model. The £99 monthly price covers a flexible contract that can be cancelled at any time, along with the cost of maintaining the restricted platform.
Limited demand expected due to pricing
Despite the safety features, industry analysts believe demand will remain niche. Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, said: “Until now, this is still a niche market and people, especially parents, are not ready to pay a significant premium for a dumb phone.”
Sage Mobile joins a small group of similar offerings, such as Pinwheel and Balance, that aim to provide stripped-back smartphone alternatives for children and teenagers. These devices often appeal to parents who are concerned not only with screen addiction, but with exposure to inappropriate content, online predators, and mental health risks.
Research has shown that problematic smartphone use among children doubles the risk of anxiety and nearly triples the likelihood of depression compared to children who use phones in a more moderate manner.
Parental demand vs affordability
Advocates of phone-free or reduced-tech childhoods say the demand for safer devices is real. Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, acknowledged the product’s appeal but questioned its accessibility.
“There is real demand for something like this from parents, especially of teens who don’t want to be lumbered with a phone that sticks out like a Nokia,” she said. “But the price will be prohibitive for most people. It’s children from low-income families who are most at risk from harm online and £99 a month is out of their range.”
Greenwell added that while the intentions behind Sage Mobile are commendable, wider systemic change is needed. "The government must make stronger policies to protect all children and not just those whose parents have enough money to do it themselves."
With smartphone addiction and online harm increasingly in the spotlight, the Sage Mobile iPhone represents a high-end attempt at rethinking how children engage with technology. Whether that vision can be democratised remains an open question.
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Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth dressed as Zelda and Link in the first official look
Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have been cast as Princess Zelda and Link in the upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action movie.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed the casting via X on 16 July.
Directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), the film is set to release on 7 May 2027.
The project is co-produced by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, marking a major push into cinematic adaptations for the gaming franchise.
Nintendo has officially announced the lead cast for its long-anticipated Legend of Zelda live-action adaptation. British actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will step into the iconic roles of Princess Zelda and Link, respectively, in a film set to release on 7 May 2027.
The casting was confirmed on Wednesday morning by Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s legendary game designer, who shared the news via Nintendo’s X account, alongside first-look images of the duo in costume. The announcement marks a major milestone in the development of the fantasy adventure film, which has been in the works for years.
First glimpse of the young actors in costume from the upcoming Legend of Zelda movieInstagram/zeldanintendo
Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth tapped as Zelda and Link
Relative newcomers to Hollywood blockbusters, both Bragason and Ainsworth bring youthful energy to two of gaming’s most enduring characters. Bragason, best known for her work in Renegade Nell and Three Girls, will portray Princess Zelda. Ainsworth, who voiced Pinocchio in Disney’s 2022 remake and starred in The Haunting of Bly Manor, takes on the role of Link, the courageous warrior from the land of Hyrule.
Casting speculation had been widespread, with fans campaigning online for actors like Hunter Schafer to be considered. Ultimately, Miyamoto expressed confidence in the final selection, stating, “I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.”
Legend of Zelda movie release date and production team
The live-action Legend of Zelda movie will hit cinemas on 7 May 2027. Directed by Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the film is gearing up to be a cinematic retelling of the beloved game series.
Sony Pictures is set to distribute the film, with production shared between Nintendo and Avi Arad’s Arad Productions. The script was most recently updated by T.S. Nowlin. Miyamoto and Arad will co-produce, continuing their collaboration from earlier projects.
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Plot expectations and franchise history
While official plot details remain under wraps, the film is expected to follow Link and Princess Zelda as they battle the dark forces threatening the kingdom of Hyrule, most notably the demonic warlord Ganon. The Legend of Zelda games often explore themes of power, wisdom, and courage through an ever-evolving timeline of reincarnated characters.
Originally launched in 1986, the Zelda franchise has sold over 150 million units worldwide. Notable entries like Ocarina of Time (1998), Breath of the Wild (2017), and Tears of the Kingdom (2023) have helped define the action-adventure genre in gaming.
The upcoming movie follows the box office success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, another Nintendo franchise adaptation that grossed over £1.04 billion (₹10,800 crore) globally.
Reactions to the casting have been mixed but largely curious, with many gamers excited to see fresh faces taking on the legendary roles. Some fans expressed disappointment that more established names were not chosen, while others welcomed the studio’s bold decision to prioritise performance potential over star power.
Meanwhile, early costume reveals of the two leads have already begun circulating online, fuelling discussions about the tone, aesthetic, and faithfulness of the adaptation.