Author: alex

European train Wi‑Fi: summary of Ookla analysis (Q2 2025) Modern high-speed trains are widespread in Europe, but onboard digital equipment — especially Wi‑Fi — still lags behind passenger expectations. An Ookla (Speedtest) analysis compared train Wi‑Fi performance across European countries. Key findings: Top performers (average download on trains): Sweden ~64.6 Mbps, Switzerland ~29.8 Mbps, Ireland ~26.3 Mbps. Germany: sits in the mid‑range with noticeably lower Wi‑Fi speeds than the leaders (not among the top performers). Main issues identified: limited coverage (tunnels, rural areas), insufficient onboard hardware/network equipment, and mobile backhaul capacity constraints. Passengers increasingly expect broadband-quality connectivity for streaming, social media and work — this puts pressure on rail operators and mobile providers to upgrade infrastructure both onboard and along rail corridors. What can improve train Wi‑Fi? Upgrade onboard Wi‑Fi…

Ferrari Elettrica — first details: power, sound & design Ferrari revealed early, substantial details about its first full electric model, the Elettrica, at Maranello. Below is a summarized breakdown of the key technical and design features announced. Key specs Powertrain: Four independent electric motors (one per wheel) producing over 1,000 hp. Battery: 122 kWh (gross) battery pack (~330+ miles estimated range). Drive & handling: Individual-motor torque vectoring plus independent rear-wheel steering to enhance cornering. Suspension: Active electric-damper system (motor-driven dampers) for instant per-corner adjustment. Sound: Accelerometer mounted inside the rear motor housing feeds harmonic resonance into a digital amplifier to create an "authentic" electric motor sound. Design: Collaboration with LoveFrom (Jony Ive) — the Elettrica will have four doors and four seats, positioned between a grand tourer and SUV. What…

Best streaming deals right now (updated) Streaming services keep raising prices, but they still have one big advantage over legacy cable: no long-term contracts. Sign up when you see a good deal, binge what you want, then cancel before the price returns to normal. We’re tracking the best current promos so you don’t have to. Below are the highlights and the most reliable official links we could confirm. (Original coverage referenced an Engadget roundup; we removed that link and verified the offers where possible.) Top highlighted deals Audible — 3 months for $3: Limited-time Amazon Audible offer for new subscribers. Official: Audible deals page. Search on Amazon (affiliate): Audible on Amazon. Spotify Premium — 1 month free (new users): Trial for first-time Premium users. Official: Spotify Premium. Search on Amazon…

New e-scooter rules in Germany — blinkers mandatory from 2027 (draft) Summary: The German Federal Cabinet has approved a draft regulation that would require newly registered e-scooters from 2027 to be equipped with turn signals (blinkers). The draft aims to improve technical safety features and sets clearer, binding rules for parking—especially for shared/rental scooters. Municipalities will be empowered to define local parking concepts, and stricter enforcement with fines is expected. What changes? Mandatory turn signals (blinkers) on newly registered e-scooters from 2027. Technical harmonisation to bring e-scooter equipment closer to bicycle standards. Stricter rules and local parking concepts for rental/shared scooters to prevent pavement obstructions. Fines and tougher enforcement planned (draft mentions penalties, amounts not yet final). Who decides parking rules? Cities and municipalities will be able to set their…

Akko MetaKey: Physical Keyboard Case for iPhone 17 — Detailed Overview Akko has launched the MetaKey, a BlackBerry‑style keyboard case that connects to recent iPhones via USB‑C and adds a tactile, backlit 37‑key mini keyboard. It’s pitched as a more affordable alternative to premium keyboard cases like Clicks. Key features Physical 37‑key keyboard with white backlight for low‑light typing USB‑C connection with passthrough charging and data support MagSafe‑compatible magnetic array for accessories Customizable shortcut/function keys and numeric mode Detachable 9‑gram weight to improve balance Durable PU/TPU construction with precise cutouts for ports and speakers Available in multiple colors Pricing & availability Early pricing starts around $59.99 for iPhone 16 Pro Max models and about $69.99 for iPhone 17 Pro Max models, with some outlets reporting limited stock. Purchase and product…

Apple continues its “Underdogs” series with a BSOD-focused ad Apple has released a new instalment in its "Underdogs" series, depicting a fictional packaging trade show where a wave of Blue Screens of Death cripples Windows PCs — while the protagonists’ Macs, iPhones and iPads remain fully operational. The spot showcases Apple’s ecosystem, security features and how its devices can keep a small startup running during an IT meltdown. Key points Premise: a trade-show outage knocks out competing Windows machines with BSODs; Apple devices used by the featured startup keep working. Focus: ecosystem synergy (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) and implied security advantages of macOS. Tone: humorous and promotional—positioning Macs as a reliable business choice. Watch the ad on YouTube: Apple ‘Underdogs’ – BSOD ad Further reading: 9to5Mac coverage What do…

ONLYOFFICE Docs 9.0.4: Create editable Word documents from photos on iPhone & iPad ONLYOFFICE has updated its ONLYOFFICE Docs app for iPhone and iPad to version 9.0.4, adding a handy OCR-based feature that converts photos of paper documents directly into editable Word (.docx) files. What’s new Photo-to-Word: Use the camera to photograph a printed document and ONLYOFFICE will recognize the text and create an editable Word file. Quick access: From the app’s start window tap the + button and choose Scan document to start. Improved editor support and additional file-format compatibility across Document, Spreadsheet and Presentation editors. Why it matters Unlike many scan apps that produce a searchable PDF, ONLYOFFICE extracts and inserts editable text directly into a Word document — saving time when you need to edit or reuse…

Grimme Online Award 2025: Short videos shape the winners' landscapeMore and more award-winning online formats are emerging where young people already get their information: on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. The Grimme Online Award 2025 winners show that short, platform-native videos are increasingly central to how creators educate and engage audiences.Key pointsShort-form videos feature prominently among several prize winners and nominees.Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are being used for explainers and public education.The official winners list provides full details and background on the recognized projects.For the full list of winners and more details, see the official Grimme Online Award page: https://www.grimme-online-award.de/2025/preistraegerWhat short-video formats do you find most effective for learning or news? Share examples in the comments.Source: Grimme Online Award 2025 (official winners list)

Snapseed redesigned on iOS; PhotoScan quiet since 2023 Google’s two iOS apps for handling photos now serve different needs: Snapseed has received a major redesign and new tools, while PhotoScan (the app for digitizing printed photos) hasn’t seen major updates since spring 2023. Snapseed — what’s new Major redesign (v3.0 announced June 12, 2025) with a cleaner UI and grid view of edited photos. New navigation tabs: Looks, Faves, and Tools. The Faves tab lets you save frequently used tools for quick access. Improved editing workflow and new tools: one‑touch masking for faster local edits, and an expanded Color tool to adjust hue, saturation and luminance for specific colors. Ongoing updates (reports note versions 3.0 → 3.5.0 introducing one‑touch masking and color controls). Download on the App Store: Snapseed on…

Prime Day Speaker Deals: JBL, Bose, Sonos & More Prime Day may be winding down, but there are still solid deals on smart speakers, soundbars and portable Bluetooth speakers. Below are curated highlights and quick links to shop on Amazon (affiliate links). Highlights JBL Xtreme 2 — $150 — Loud portable with ~15-hour battery. Shop: JBL Xtreme 2 on Amazon JBL Flip 6 — $100 — Durable all-rounder, 12-hour battery. Shop: JBL Flip 6 on Amazon Beats Pill — $119 — Bass-forward portable with USB-C lossless playback. Shop: Beats Pill on Amazon Bose SoundLink Flex — $99 — High-fidelity outdoor speaker, compact. Shop: Bose SoundLink Flex on Amazon Sonos Era 100 — $180 — Great-sounding smart speaker with TruePlay tuning. Shop: Sonos Era 100 on Amazon More Picks JBL Go…