Author: alex

TikTok deal expected to be signed — White House: majority US ownership planned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a TikTok deal is expected to be signed "in the coming days." President Donald Trump has also said he "approved the TikTok deal." Reported key terms include: Creation of a new app for U.S. users that will continue to use ByteDance's algorithmic technology. Majority ownership by U.S. investors (TikTok to be "majority owned by Americans in the United States"). Reported multibillion-dollar payment tied to the agreement and investor participation from U.S. firms. U.S.-China approvals reportedly negotiated, but paperwork and signatures remain to finalize the deal. Context: The plan revives earlier efforts to force a divestiture or ban of TikTok over national security concerns. Officials say this structure is meant to…

SwitchBot Thermometer (Meter & Meter Plus) — deals from 7.99 German reports indicate the SwitchBot Meter (temperature & humidity sensor) is currently discounted in some European stores, with the basic model seen for as low as e7.99. If you already use SwitchBot devices, these sensors are a cheap way to add temperature and humidity monitoring to your smart home. Key points Models: SwitchBot Meter (basic) and SwitchBot Meter Plus (larger display, more precise sensors) Features: temperature & humidity readings, display (Meter Plus has a 3" screen), app integration and smart alerts when paired with a SwitchBot Hub Price: reported from e7.99 (regional/retailer-dependent); official store prices are typically higher Where to buy Amazon (US affiliate search link for both models): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SwitchBot+Meter&tag=f1rede-20 Official SwitchBot product pages: SwitchBot Meter SwitchBot Meter Plus Notes…

Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace: $1,500 Luxury Earbuds Now Available for Pre‑Order Bang & Olufsen has unveiled the Beo Grace — a premium pair of true wireless earbuds priced at $1,500 (also listed at £1,000 / €1,200 depending on region). Pre-orders are open now and the earbuds will be widely available from November 17. Key specs & features Design: Polished natural aluminium casing with a pearlescent finish; optional bespoke full‑grain leather pouch ($400). Sound: 12mm titanium drivers, Spatial Audio optimized for Dolby Atmos. Active Noise Cancellation: Adaptive ANC driven by six studio‑grade microphones — B&O says it’s four times more effective than its previous best earbuds. Controls: Tactile gesture controls for play/pause/skip and tap volume control. Battery: Up to 4.5 hours listening with ANC on; up to 17 hours total…

EU may bar US tech firms from a new financial-data sharing system as Apple loses DMA appeal Recent reports indicate that US tech giants — including Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon — could be denied access to a forthcoming European Union system for sharing financial data. This comes amid continued regulatory pressure on large platforms operating in Europe. Apple and the DMA Apple has recently lost its appeal against the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability obligations. The ruling means Apple must comply with measures designed to increase interoperability between dominant platforms and third-party services. Apple argued the rules threaten user privacy, security and innovation; EU regulators say the rules protect competition and consumer choice. What’s at stake Data access: Denying access to the new EU financial-data system would limit…

Tado adds AI to its heating control with 'AI Assist' Smart-home company Tado has introduced "AI Assist," a revamped subscription for its heating control system. The service uses real-time artificial intelligence to optimize heating processes — aiming to reduce energy consumption and costs while improving comfort. What’s new Real-time AI optimization of heating schedules and processes New subscription model for access to AI features Goals: lower energy use, reduce bills, increase comfort Source: original report on iphone-ticker.de. For official info, see Tado. Would you consider paying for AI-driven heating optimization? Leave a comment below.

Best Chromebooks in 2025 — Summary and Buyer’s Guide Chromebooks have evolved from web-only netbooks into capable, everyday laptops. Many now offer powerful processors, premium displays, touchscreens and support for Android apps and Google’s AI tools, making them strong candidates for students, streamers and anyone who primarily works in the browser. Top picks (highlights) Acer Chromebook Plus 514 — Great value 14" option. Find on Amazon Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 — 2-in-1 touchscreen versatility. Find on Amazon Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE — Higher-performance models for more demanding tasks. Find on Amazon Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 — Solid midrange pick. Find on Amazon Why consider a Chromebook? - Simplicity: fast boot, minimal bloat, and a browser-centric OS. - Android app support expands functionality (Netflix, Microsoft Office, Lightroom, etc.). -…

Sennheiser HD 500 BAM: Clip‑on boom mic adds voice to HD‑500 headphones Sennheiser has launched the HD 500 BAM, a clip‑on boom‑arm microphone that converts compatible HD‑500 series headphones into a communication‑ready headset without compromising their audio quality. It’s aimed at users who want to use their high‑end headphones for gaming, streaming, or remote meetings. Key details Compatibility: HD 505, HD 550, HD 560S, HD 569, HD 599, HD 599 SE, HD 620S. Purpose: Adds clear speech capture for gaming, voice chats and calls while preserving the original headphone sound signature. Availability: Available now from major retailers. Where to buy Amazon (affiliate): Search for Sennheiser HD 500 BAM on Amazon Official Sennheiser product page: Sennheiser HD 500 BAM Who is it for? Owners of Sennheiser’s HD‑500 headphones who want to…

Apple Watch 5G in Germany — Telekom-only, some users report issues New Apple Watch models can connect to 5G networks, but in Germany this capability currently works only on Deutsche Telekom’s network. While Telekom has rolled out support (using 5G Standalone / RedCap technology), there are isolated reports of users experiencing connectivity problems. Key points 5G for the latest Apple Watch models requires a 5G Standalone (SA) network and operator support — in Germany that support is provided by Telekom. Telekom enables 5G for the Watch via compatible tariffs and eSIM/MultiSIM; if 5G SA isn’t available the Watch will fall back to LTE (4G). Some users have reported issues in forums and support threads; those reports appear to be isolated rather than widespread, but they’re worth monitoring. Troubleshooting tips Ensure…

Raspberry Pi releases M.2 HAT+ Compact for Raspberry Pi 5 The Raspberry Pi Foundation has launched the M.2 HAT+ Compact — a smaller M.2 adapter for the Raspberry Pi 5 that allows installation of short 2230 NVMe SSDs inside the official Raspberry Pi 5 case. The board sits between the fan and the USB ports, making internal storage upgrades neater and fully compatible with the official case and fan assembly. Key details Supports M.2 M-key 2230 form factor (30 mm length) only. PCIe x1 (PCIe 2.0) interface with practical throughput up to ~500 MB/s. Supplies up to 3 A to connected M.2 devices. Conforms to the Raspberry Pi HAT+ specification for automatic detection in Raspberry Pi OS. Includes mounting hardware (screws, spacers, ribbon cable, GPIO stacking header) for simple installation.…

Aldi Talk increases included data by up to 66% — prepaid & 5G Home updates Last week Aldi Talk rolled out a significant data boost: many combo prepaid packages and the “Unlimited on Demand” tariffs now include up to 66% more high-speed data at no extra cost. Existing customers reportedly receive the higher volumes after changing or renewing their tariff, while new customers get the larger allowances immediately. Key points Data volumes increased by up to 66% in several combo and unlimited prepaid plans. Changes affect classic 4-week "Kombi" packages and the "Unlimited on Demand" options. Annual packages were also improved in some cases (larger yearly data pools available). Aldi Talk is expanding offerings with 5G-based "Aldi Talk Home" tariffs (reported launch: Sept 25) — options such as ~150 GB/300…