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Many European consumers actively avoid American tech giants for privacy reasonsSocial media and cloud storage are priorities for consumersEU companies only have 15% of the European cloud marketFour in five European consumers say it matters whether or not businesses use European technology, confirming that digital sovereignty has now become a priority for the masses.A study by Proton of 3,000 UK, France and Germany consumers shows that they’re beginning to view a company’s digital infrastructure as part of its brand and values, rather than a back-office decision that has no impact on customers.As a result, nearly half (45%) said they would actively avoid companies that store customer data with US firms, with more concern over privacy and security than price or quality.Digital sovereignty speaks volumes to consumersThis also aligns with European Commission ‘Eurobarometer’ data revealing that three-fifths (58%) of the bloc’s citizens would be willing to switch to an EU-based digital service provider, even if that meant paying a higher fee.The report argues this reliance on US hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft, Google and Meta can no longer be seen as a neutral business decision in the eyes of European customers, who are increasingly concerned over privacy, surveillance and geopolitical dependence.Social media (48%), email (46%), messaging apps (40%) and other services that directly handle personal communications and information were seen as the most at-risk among consumers, Proton found. Other than communications, cloud storage (38%) was another great worry, along with browsers (31%).Two in three (65%) now also believe that European small businesses should prioritize European tech providers over US ones, and not from a supporting local companies point of view. Consumers are more interested by sovereignty, keeping investments within Europe and reducing reliance on foreign tech vendors.As many as four in five (83%) now worry about society’s dependence on Big Tech and how a small number of hyperscalers now dominate the market. Attitudes have shifted rapidly, Proton says, because of deteriorating US-Europe geopolitical tensions and the continued debate over US surveillance laws which prevent vendors from being able to fully offer sovereign options.The US CLOUD Act is a specific worry for European citizens, because it allows US law enforcement to access data held by American technology companies, even if it’s stored within European data centers.Customer data use is also a growing concern, where their information may be being used to train AI models that only serve to help those US giants.The reality of US tech relianceAll of this comes amid growing US dependence, with three-quarters (74%) of publicly listed European companies relying on US tech providers, per an earlier Proton report.Google and Microsoft alone account for 84% of the global office productivity market, with Amazon, Microsoft and Google jointly taking up a 66% of the cloud market. Proton’s full report details how European providers only hold a collective 15% of the European cloud market.“Buying tech from the US used to seem like a no brainer,” Proton COO Raphael Auphan admitted, indicating an understanding of why European consumers are so deeply reliant on US software.Tariffs on European exports, NATO tensions and American criticism over EU regulation – all of which falling under Trump’s presidency – are to blame, the Swiss company says.But Auphan now describes relying on US tech as a “commercial liability” for businesses. “It's increasingly clear that consumers care about digital supply chains, and US tech is becoming a weak link.”“The EU runs on Microsoft,” Finnish MEP Aura Sally said at the 2026 Open Source Policy Summit. “The US could turn us off inside one hour.”However, an overnight migration away from US hyperscalers isn’t such an easy move, and while Proton is trying to offer some paths with the recent addition of Gmail migration with zero downtime, a full stack move could take years, buying well-funded American tech giants time to come up with more regional solutions to prevent customers from wanting to migrate in the first place.

Naughty Dog may have canceled its The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer project, but Factions fans can now at least have a new PvP mode to look forward to… if they're on PC.Modder Speclizer uploaded 25 minutes of early gameplay for a mod they're working on that will let players go head-to-head as Abby, Ellie, and potentially other characters from the PlayStation video game series. The video kicks off with the news that, after starting development in January 2026, it's expected to launch this September.It's admittedly a bit rough around the edges in its current state but, so far, this The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod seems to feature a relatively fleshed-out PvP mode. The earliest moments of the gameplay video are the most telling, highlighting a matchmaking system, maps, and loadout selections. Is it exactly what Naughty Dog may have had planned for The Last of Us Online? Probably not, and it's only coming to PC for now, but it might just help fill the hole in players' hearts.Those itching for a multiplayer spin on a classic post-apocalyptic story might also find some hints of what's to come on Speclizer's X/Twitter account. In the months since development began, they've regularly posted updates on their progress.One June 13 video, for example, features footage of school, Seattle, and gas station maps. A May update showed how their first 1v1 match played out. Other videos also show that the modder has seemingly toyed with the idea of including other playable characters (like Dina) and costumes (like Ellie's spacesuit).It's hard to say what will end up in the mod as Speclizer continues chipping away at it. For now, it at least looks like The Last of Us fans looking to revisit Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed gameplay might have something to keep them occupied this September.The PlayStation studio canceled its long-gestating multiplayer off-shoot in late 2023, promising to shift its focus to single-player games going forward. Its last all-new story, The Last of Us Part 2, launched almost exactly six years ago in June 2020. Its next, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, remains without a release date. In ramping up to full production, the massive scope of our ambition became clear, Naughty Dog said at the time of The Last of Us Online's cancelation. To release and support The Last of Us Online we’d have to put all our studio resources behind supporting post launch content for years to come, severely impacting development on future single-player games. So, we had two paths in front of us: become a solely live service games studio or continue to focus on single-player narrative games that have defined Naughty Dog’s heritage. While Speclizer works to fill the void, we may never know what the PlayStation studio had planned for its evolution on the multiplayer 'Factions' mode delivered with the original The Last of Us. Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida said last year that the version of the game he was aware of was great. Vinit Agarwal, who at one time served as director for The Last of Us Part 2's multiplayer spin-off, said earlier this year that it was nearly 80% complete at the time of its cancelation.Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Amazon Prime Day starts tomorrow, but Walmart got a head start with all of its incredible deals launching today. This summer sale rivals Amazon and even goes longer, as the discounts won’t end until Sunday, June 28. Whether you’re looking to add more video games and accessories to your collection or want to score some hard-to-beat savings on Apple products, there’s plenty to be excited about this week. Just be sure to act fast, since many of the most popular deals are selling out. The Best Walmart Summer Sale DealsNow, there are tons of discounts to be excited about, and you have the potential to save even more or receive access to exclusive deals early with Walmart+ subscription, which happens to be 50% off. However, you don’t need a Walmart+ membership to score some highlights of Walmart’s summer sale, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, the PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds, a LEGO Succulent, and the AirPods Max 2. Take a look at all our favorite tech, video game, LEGO, Toy, TV, and more deals below: Video Game DealsWalmart has discounted an excess amount of video games and accessories right now, but some deals are better than others. If you’ve been waiting to grab The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, you’re in luck, as the 10/10 rated “Masterpiece” is down $20 today. That’s not the only discounted Switch game. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Pikmin 4 both make fun additions to any Switch library, and for just $20, you can score Bravely Default Flying Fairy for Switch 2. Silent Hill f for PS5 has also hit a new low price. As for gaming accessories, the PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds are down to the lowest price I’ve seen. These earbuds are one of the few you can actually pair with the PS Portal. Our favorite budget VR headset, the Meta Quest 3S, is also down by more than $50, while the highly rated GameSir G7 Pro Controller got a nice $16 price cut. LEGO Deals Some LEGO deals have already sold out, so you’ll want to act fast on these discounts. The incredibly popular LEGO Succulent set is down to just $25, and best of all, you can’t kill these 5-inch plants. Spider-Man fans will be excited about the deal on the Spider-Man vs. Oscorp Building, which includes a bunch of minifigures. Plus, if you’ve been into all the World Cup action, a LEGO Soccer Ball and Cristiano Ronaldo set are both on sale. However, some deals are exclusive to Walmart+ subscribers. Luckily, you can save 50% on a membership right now. Apple DealsIf you’re after some new high-end over-ear headphones for your Apple devices, you’re in luck, as both the AirPods Max 2 and Beats Studio Pro are down to record-low prices. The latest generation of Apple AirTags, which offer louder speakers and upgraded tracking distance, have just received its first major discount. Plus, you can save $50 on an Apple iPad A16 or get some incredibly cheap open-box AirPods 4 with ANC. That’s just scratching the surface of the Apple deals; check them all out here. 4K Movie DealsMany of Walmart’s 4K movie deals are cheaper than Amazon's right now. From Matt Reeves’ The Batman to Moana, there is an incredible selection to add to your physical media collection. Even the Tron Steelbook, which was rarely in stock last year, has hit a new low, $28.60. Be sure to scroll through all the movie deals yourself to find even more to take home. PC and Laptop DealsWhether you’re looking to amp up your current setup with a new desk, gaming chair, and monitor, or you’re after a whole new rig, Walmart has some solid discounts. For an awesome everyday work laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i is a great option. To tackle games in 4K, you can’t go wrong with the iBUYPOWER Y40 Gaming PC, and a more portable option is the MSI Vector 16 Gaming Laptop, which happens to be down 33% right now. Check out all of Walmart’s PC and Laptop deals here. TV DealsNeed a cheap TV for a spare room? Well, Walmart has you covered with its Vizio TV deals. That’s not all, as you can score some serious discounts on TV stands to hold that new TV. Also, if you’re one of the lucky ones with an awesome backyard to hang out in, you can score a major discount on an outdoor TV that’s built tough to withstand the elements. Other Tech DealsBeyond gaming and PC deals, there is plenty of other tech on sale. Chances are good you’ll be spending lots of time outside this summer, so this onn speaker deal will be great for all those outdoor gatherings, especially thanks to the impressive 12-hour battery. You can also keep cool (or at least your beverages frosty) with a cheap pebble ice maker and make things extra festive with some Govee outdoor lights. Be sure to scroll through all of those deals and more. Other Toy and Game DealsWhile there aren't too many toy deals during Walmart’s Summer Sale just yet, there are a few things to get excited about. If you saw the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, this adorable Hatchin' Yoshi Interactive Figure is half off; millennials should think Furby vibes. Sticking with the movie theme, Toy Story 5 just dropped this weekend, and a Buzz figure for the latest installment is only $10. Exploding Kittens is also down to $10, if you’re after a family-friendly card game. Get 50% Off Walmart+ for Awesome Perks You can save 50% on a Walmart+ subscription. Not only will you get exclusive early access to many of the deals happening this week, but it comes with a plethora of other incredible perks. To start, shipping is free with no order minimum, which is great if you’re buying something today that doesn’t automatically offer free shipping. You can even score $0.10 off gas at select stations, save 25% on Burger King orders, and more. However, perhaps the best perk is the complimentary Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium Subscription. That alone may be reason enough to get a Walmart+ membership. Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

A home security camera will give you peace of mind, watching over your property, alerting you to any unusual happenings, and capturing video evidence. However, they can also be expensive to run; many systems require a monthly or annual subscription plan to store your video clips, and to unlock features like subject recognition. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Here at TechRadar we've tested dozens of security cameras, including lots without any extra fees. This is a great time to pick one up too, with lots of models likely to be discounted for Amazon Prime Day.Here I've put together a list of the top five subscription-free home security cameras we recommend, with options for everything from apartments through to large detached properties and even small businesses.1. Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4KChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceThe Baseus Security S2 isn't the only solar-powered security camera we've tested, but it's the only one with a photovoltaic panel that rotates around its body to follow the sun, ensuring it captures as much light as possible throughout the day. It looks strange, but in our tests, we found worked brilliantly, noticeably extending battery life.In addition, an SD card slot in the bottom means you can save your video recordings locally, without paying for cloud storage. However, the real standout feature in our view is the S2's built-in facial-recognition, which can alert you if the camera spots familiar people nearby. Just upload their photos to the app, and it will keep an eye out for them. It's the kind of advanced feature that would normally only be available as part of a premium subscription package, but here it's thrown in.During tests, the S2 produced very few false alerts. This not only prevents you from being bombarded with unnecessary phone notifications, it also means recording is triggered only by genuine events, extending the cam's battery life. Images are superbly detailed during the day, and the spotlight is excellent for illuminating the garden at night to ensure high-quality footage in the dark, too.The Baseus S2 is also one of the most affordable subscription-free security cameras we've tested. Yes, the up-front cost is more than you'd pay for a camera from Blink or Ring, for example, but the absence of fees for storage and advanced features mean it almost certainly works out cheaper overall.If you're on a strict budget, take a look at the Baseus Security S1 instead. It's available for about half the price of the S2 and has the same rotating solar panel. However, it records at only 2K and has 8GB built-in storage rather than up to 256GB via a microSD card.Read our full Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4K review2. Swann MaxRanger4K SolarFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureSwann's MaxRanger4K Solar cameras are sold in packs of two or three, bundled with a base station that provides 64GB local storage for your videos, and is expandable with an SD card if you need even more room. If that isn't enough coverage, you can also pick up extra cams to connect to the station.These high-definition cameras were seriously impressive – especially considering you don't need to subscribe to get the most out of them. Each camera arrives with a tough weather-resistant chassis, and captures super-crisp 4K footage with a wide 105-degree viewing angle. That's great for a camera without pan-and-tilt functionality. That's not all – the cameras also have a sensor that uses heat and motion to identify people, vehicles, and other disturbances, and labels them accordingly. It's the kind of feature you'd usually only get with a paid security plan, but it's bundled in here – and in our tests it worked brilliantly, accurately identifying triggers.The app lets you tweak camera settings, including its sensitivity, which is a handy way to extend the battery life of the units. Each cam has a solar panel that allows it to last months between charges, but you'll need to spend some time optimizing settings for maximum effect. The more frequently recordings are triggered, the faster the battery will drain.Read our full Swann MaxRanger4K Solar review3. Reolink Altas PT UltraChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceChris PriceThe Reolink Altas PT Ultra earned four stars in our review thanks to its crisp video recordings, pan-and-tilt functionality to cover an extra-wide area, and local storage for your video. Although it's somewhat bulky, it looks smart and didn't worry our neighbors unnecessarily (always a plus).The camera can automatically track subjects such as people and animals, or you can pan and tilt it manually using the app, if there's something in particular that you want to keep an eye on. There's a pre-record option, too, similar to the one you'd get with a dash cam, which captures footage continuously in the background and saves the 10 seconds that were recorded before a trigger event.Footage is super clear during the day, but we found that the Altas PT Ultra really excels at night. Most home security cameras produce pretty shoddy monochrome video after dark, but Reolink's ColorX technology captures impressive color footage without a spotlight.Storing your videos in the cloud costs extra, but there's no need when you can save them to an SD card, or to an encrypted Reolink Home Hub. The Home Hub comes with 64GB storage, expandable with up to two 512GB SD cards, which should be more than enough.Read our full Reolink Altas PT Ultra review4. EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer FutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureIf you like the idea of a security camera to cover the front of your home, but you don't want to (or can't) drill holes anywhere, the EZVIZ EP4 is an excellent option. It's installed through the peephole in your front door, and has a wide field of view that gives great visibility in sharp 4K. I installed it in the front door of my apartment within 10 minutes, and was very impressed by the clarity of the picture on the internal display, and on my phone.When the camera's motion sensor is triggered, it will send a notification to your phone and record a 10-second video clip, which can be saved to a microSD card. You can choose to pay for cloud storage if you want, but there's no need. You also don't need to pay for EZVIZ's facial recognition tool, which lets you upload photos of friends and members of your family, and then notifies you when they arrive. During my tests it worked very well, despite being in beta. The only downside that was you can't yet choose not to receive these alerts, so you would only be notified if a stranger arrives.The EP4 also functions as a video doorbell, and offers two-way talk, with two voice changing options for privacy. All in all, it's an excellent option for renters and apartment-owners, and when you move out, you can simply take it with you.Read my EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer hands-on5. Eufy eufyCam 3 S330 Future / Rachel OgdenFuture / Rachel OgdenFuture / Rachel OgdenFuture / Rachel OgdenFuture / Rachel OgdenThe eufyCam 3 S330 is a full security system designed for large properties, and even businesses. It consists of a set of cameras (the starter kit includes two, and additional ones are available to purchase separately) plus a HomeBase unit that connects them all to one another, and to your home Wi-Fi network.Your videos are stored within the HomeBase unit, which comes with 16GB of storage that you can expand up to a colossal 16TB by plugging in an external hard drive, so you don't need to pay for cloud storage and your data is safely saved indoors. Although it's a 'prosumer' system partially aimed at businesses, we found it easy to install and set up for the average user. Each camera has a 135-degree field of view, and a bright floodlight that can be triggered by motion at night for full-color footage, and a top-mounted solar panel so you don't need to take them down for frequent charging. Subject detection is excellent, though on the standard settings it proved so sensitive that it sometimes also mistook a person's reflection for someone else in our tests, so it's worth taking some time to tinker with the settings. It includes facial recognition as well, and unlike the EZVIZ camera above, this doesn't rely on a set of photos and can 'learn' to identify individuals over time. The initial price isn't cheap, but when you consider how much you'd need to pay for an equivalent subscription setup, it's good value in the long term.Read our full Eufy eufyCam 3 S330 reviewMore Prime Day deals in the US Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair toolsCheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & SamsungLaptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothingVacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34More Prime Day deals in the UK Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trialAmazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99Amazon Haul: up to 30% offApple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low priceAppliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & SageBeauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-BEssentials: household goods from under £10Fashion: up to 50% offFather's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinksHeadphones: up to 50% offLaptops: from £149.99Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125Toys: up to 25% off Lego and ToniesTVs: from £129.99Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & RoborockWearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

HPE reveals rack-scale system containing 81,920 CPU coresAMD Venice processors power HPE’s next-generation Cray infrastructureOne 42U rack delivers unprecedented levels of computing densityDuring its recent HPE Discover 2026 event, the company revealed new Cray GX5000 hardware featuring next-generation AMD EPYC Venice processors, with specifications that push server density well beyond current deployments.The system combines multiple compute blades, liquid cooling infrastructure, networking hardware, and memory resources inside a single 42U rack configuration.HPE revealed a Cray GX5000 configuration designed to deliver up to 81,920 CPU cores in one rack.Dense compute architecture pushes rack capacity higherThe HPE Cray GX5000 platform follows the AMD EPYC 9965, a 192-core processor that represented one of AMD’s highest-core-count server CPUs before Venice arrived.While the EPYC 9965 increased processor-level density, the Venice-based system takes a broader approach by combining multiple CPUs, memory resources, and cooling infrastructure inside a single rack.At the center of the system is the HPE Cray GX250a compute blade, which houses eight AMD EPYC Venice processors.The compute blade incorporates power delivery, liquid cooling channels, memory subsystems, storage devices, and networking components within a compact design.HPE stated that a fully populated rack can deliver 81,920 CPU cores, although exact processor configurations were not disclosed.Based on the rack specifications, the system reportedly uses 80 multi-node motherboards and can support as much as 1.28PB of RAM.Each Venice processor connects to 16 memory channels, creating substantial memory bandwidth for large-scale computing workloads.The memory modules themselves are liquid-cooled and appear to use standard DIMM form factors.Photographs from the event showed local Samsung E1.S EDSSF SSDs mounted above several processor cold plates.HPE representatives indicated these drives serve as high-speed scratch storage for temporary data processing tasks.The installed DRAM modules, storage devices, and node identifiers suggest that the displayed hardware was operational rather than a nonfunctional demonstration unit.That distinction is significant because earlier Venice demonstrations appeared closer to prototype systems than production-ready deployments.Venice CPUs and networking define the platformThe rack incorporates Slingshot 400 networking hardware, with HPE indicating future compatibility with Slingshot 800 technology.Networking modules are mounted within side pods connected to processors through dedicated interfaces designed for high-bandwidth communication.The front-facing networking arrangement also simplifies cable management by changing how optical connections are routed throughout the rack.HPE also displayed a coolant distribution unit capable of handling 1.6MW of cooling capacity for large installations.Such cooling requirements reflect the growing power densities associated with modern high-performance computing infrastructure and increasingly complex CPU designs.AI tools, scientific simulations, engineering analysis, and large LLM deployments are among workloads requiring this level of computational density.The company did not disclose detailed specifications for AMD's unannounced Venice processors, although available figures suggest unusually high core counts.Calculations based on the stated 81,920-core rack capacity imply processor densities exceeding current EPYC generations by a substantial margin.Although AMD has not released the specs or performance figures for Venice, the projected core density of the HPE system has led to speculation that the processor could become one of the most powerful x86 CPUs produced.A lot could change before the official launch, but the Cray GX5000 platform indicates that AMD and HPE are pursuing higher compute density within the same rack footprint.Via ServeTheHome