Scotland Archives

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Is Lloyds Bank down? Customers complain about app issues

Users of Lloyds Bank's app and online banking services experienced significant difficulties starting around 11 AM, with reports indicating problems since 6:36 AM EDT. Complaints came from various locations across the UK, particularly in major cities like London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Approximately 70% of issues were related to the app, 13% involved login difficulties, and 10% pertained to online banking functionalities. Lloyds Bank acknowledged the technical difficulties and advised users to log in again or try later. Users of Halifax and Bank of Scotland also reported similar issues. Downdetector is a platform that monitors and reports service disruptions, and it confirmed that Lloyds Bank's app is now functioning as intended.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Amazon Luna

Amazon Prime subscribers will have access to new games on Amazon Luna in August, including the addition of "Batman: Caped Crusader – Chronicles" to the GameNight library. The Luna Standard lineup features three games currently available: "Bluey: The Videogame," "Disney/Pixar Brave: The Video Game," and "Disney/Pixar: WALL-E." Two more games, "Assassin’s Creed Valhalla" and "Assassin’s Creed Mirage," will be released later in the month. Additionally, subscribers can claim downloadable PC games, including "Right and Down," "Hiveswap Friendsim," "Pyramids and Aliens: Escape Room," "Airship: Kingdoms Adrift," "Steelrising," "Royal Romances: Forbidden Magic," "Spray Paint Simulator," "Havendock," and "Clash: Artifacts of Chaos," throughout August.

AppWizard

August 14, 2026

Shoutout to this particular skeleton, who researchers believe is the first confirmed case of being totally obliterated by a trebuchet

Researchers have identified Skeleton 150, believed to be the first confirmed victim of a trebuchet, unearthed during excavations beneath Stirling Castle in Scotland in 1997. This skeleton is part of a collection dating back to the 1300s and shows signs of violent death, including distinct cut marks, puncture wounds, and blunt force trauma. Dr. Buckberry from Historic Environment Scotland presented findings indicating that the unusual burial location beneath the castle chapel suggests these individuals may have died during sieges in the late 13th century. Stirling Castle was a strategic stronghold that fell to Edward I's armies after a siege in 1304, during which the largest trebuchet, "The War Wolf," was used. Dr. Buckberry noted that the extensive damage to Skeleton 150 indicates the individual was likely killed by a siege engine.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Silent Hill: Townfall’s director finds it ‘utterly terrifying to be the next one in the series’ but is still confident fans will enjoy the experience

Silent Hill: Townfall is set to debut a preview at Gamescom, with insights shared by director Jon McKellan and series producer Motoi Okamoto. McKellan expressed the team's mixed emotions about following previous titles, particularly Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f, describing it as both terrifying and an honor. The game is set in a small foggy town in Scotland named St. Amelia, during 1996, and will explore themes related to the anxieties of the internet's integration into daily life. McKellan mentioned that while they will lean into familiar expectations, they also aim to subvert them with new twists. Okamoto emphasized the importance of maintaining the franchise's core identity of strong psychological horror narratives while allowing for innovation in gameplay styles.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Average pocket money received by children revealed by money app

Children aged seven to 18 received an average of £9.90 per week in pocket money from January to April 2026, reflecting a 1.2% increase from £9.78 in 2025. Girls earned an average of £9.89, while boys received £9.91. The consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rate was 2.8% in April 2026. Children in the South East of England had the highest average weekly pocket money at £12.88, while those in the East of England had the lowest at £8.57. The most common task for earning pocket money was tidying bedrooms, averaging £1.14, with music practice being the highest-paying chore at £1.84. The most popular savings goals among children were holidays, birthdays, and electronics. Grocery stores and supermarkets were the primary spending venues, followed by restaurants, clothing shops, transport, and health and beauty outlets. Children saved an average of £3.93 per week. The average weekly pocket money payments by age for 2026 were as follows: - Seven: £4.30 - Eight: £4.44 - Nine: £4.78 - Ten: £5.38 - Eleven: £6.46 - Twelve: £8.12 - Thirteen: £10.68 - Fourteen: £12.86 - Fifteen: £14.54 - Sixteen: £16.66 - Seventeen: £18.61 - Eighteen: £16.57 Average weekly pocket money payments by region from January to April 2026 were: - East Midlands: £9.47 - East of England: £8.57 - London: £10.02 - North East: £8.75 - North West: £9.74 - Scotland: £10.67 - South East: £12.88 - South West: £8.69 - Wales: £8.89 - West Midlands: £9.90 - Yorkshire and the Humber: £8.93 Popular tasks for pocket money payments in 2026 included: - Tidying bedroom: £1.14 - Helping around the house: £1.21 - Brushing teeth: £1.31 - Doing homework: £1.39 - Looking after pets: £1.42

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Alexander Morton, the voice of Geralt’s pal Zoltan in The Witcher games, has died

Alexander Morton, known for voicing Zoltan Chivay in The Witcher video games, has passed away. CD Projekt, the game's developer, expressed their sorrow in a tribute. Morton was also recognized for his role as Golly Mackenzie in the series Monarch of the Glen, which significantly contributed to the show's success. Louise Thornton from BBC Scotland highlighted his impact on Scottish television and theatre. Morton's career spanned several decades, starting in the 1970s, and he was celebrated for his theatrical performances. Fellow actor Robert Carlyle praised him as a brilliant actor and a kind person. Alexander Morton was 81 years old at the time of his passing.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

The Farming Simulator 25 Highland Fishing DLC realizes my most idyllic dreams, but the NPCs could be a challenge

Farming Simulator 25 has introduced the Highland Fishing expansion, which features a new map called Kinclaig, boat-based fishing, fishery management mechanics, and four new vehicle brands. The expansion allows players to engage in fish breeding and fishing in serene lochs filled with salmon and rainbow trout. It is priced at .99 / £24.99 and can be downloaded via Steam or purchased as a bundle with the base game for .31 / £42.31.

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

Riot admits its League of Legends TCG Riftbound might have short-changed you on rare cards

The author's enthusiasm for League of Legends has decreased recently, particularly due to the overwhelming pursuit of ranked success and the lack of cinema watch parties for the Worlds tournament in Scotland. However, the introduction of Riftbound, a new physical card game by Riot, has rekindled their interest. The game captures the essence of League of Legends champions, as emphasized by its design manager. There have been concerns regarding rarity distribution in booster packs, with some players receiving fewer rare cards than expected. On October 29, game director Dave Guskin acknowledged these issues and stated that Riot is investigating potential collation problems. He reassured players that overall rarity distribution at the booster box level is functioning as intended and promised to address the concerns. Players experiencing issues are encouraged to report them with specific details. The launch of Riftbound has generally gone smoothly, despite some complaints about regional pricing and pack availability.

AppWizard

November 1, 2025

Europa Universalis V (PC) Review

In 1993, French game designer Philippe Thibaut released the tabletop game Europa Universalis, which focused on the geopolitical dynamics of European powers from the late 15th century to 1792. The game was complex, featuring nearly 1500 counters and extensive manuals, with some sessions lasting over 60 hours. Thibaut collaborated with Paradox Development Studio to adapt the game for PC, launching the video game version in late 2000, which introduced real-time gameplay with a pause feature and an open-ended structure. As of 2025, the franchise has evolved to include four mainline titles and a spin-off, culminating in Europa Universalis V, which introduces a new starting date of April 1, 1337, and ends on December 31, 1836. The game features a detailed world map with 28,570 locations and 1,523 playable nations. New features include a revamped military system, balancing estates, and scripted situations that reflect real-world events. Despite advancements, Europa Universalis V has a high barrier to entry, particularly for newcomers, and may require additional content to reach its full potential. The game has shown stability on mid-range systems, though performance on handheld devices may be lacking.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

New feature on Lloyds app proving to be a massive hit with customers

The Lloyds app has launched a popular barcode cash paying-in feature, allowing customers to deposit up to £300 daily at over 3,000 PayPoint locations, facilitating over £3 million in deposits since its introduction in August. Lloyds plans to close 292 branches in 2025 and has previously announced the closure of 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax, and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May and March of the following year. All employees affected by these closures will be offered positions at other branches or within different sectors of the business.