Author: alex

Amazon Music launches AI-powered “Weekly Vibe” playlists (US only) Amazon Music has started rolling out a new feature called "Weekly Vibe": AI-generated weekly playlists personalized from each listener’s recent listening history. These playlists arrive every Monday for users in the United States and can be saved to your library or shared with friends. What it does Generates a weekly playlist tailored to your preferences and recent plays. Delivered every Monday and currently rolling out to US users. Playlists have branded names (e.g., “Empowerment Anthems”, “Melodic Flex”) and are savable and shareable. Available across Amazon Music subscription tiers on mobile apps (look under Library > Made for You). Notes & caveats Although branded as “AI-powered” and described as reflecting listeners’ “preferences and mood,” the playlists appear to be generated from listening…

iPhone 17 event preview — iOS 26 compatibility and features Apple's iPhone event is set for Tuesday, Sept 9. Expected highlights include new iPhone models (rumoured iPhone 17 line) and the announcement that iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 will arrive to the public in mid-September (likely around Sept 16). Quick summary Event: Sept 9 — Apple keynote. Expected OS release: mid-September (around Sept 16). Notable compatibility change: iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max (2018) are reported to be ineligible for iOS 26. iPhones announced in 2019 or later should be supported. iOS 26 highlights "Liquid Glass" visual overhaul with refreshed icons, floating buttons and cohesive OS-wide design. Phone app redesign with combined contacts/recent/voicemail view and Hold Assist. Live Translate for real-time call/text translation. Polls in Messages, more lock…

Amazon Deal: Echo Dot (5th Gen) for €34.99 Amazon is currently offering the Echo Dot (5th Generation) at a promotional price of €34.99, down from the typical official price of €64.99. This is a substantial saving on one of Amazon's compact Alexa speakers. Quick facts Model: Echo Dot (5th Gen) Current price: €34.99 (promotional) Official retail price: €64.99 For more details or to purchase, check the Amazon search page for the Echo Dot (affiliate link): Buy Echo Dot (5th Gen) on Amazon. Availability and final price may vary by country, seller and time. Be sure to check shipping, taxes and seller ratings before buying. Note: This summary omits links to the original RSS source; the deal was reported by a tech news site.

DB Rad+: Bahn-App soll Radweg-Infrastruktur verbessern Die Deutsche Bahn bietet ihr App-Angebot Rad+ jetzt deutschlandweit an. Die App soll Radfahrer dazu animieren, ihre Strecken aufzuzeichnen und die anonymisierten Daten für die Verkehrsplanung zur Verfügung zu stellen. Als Gegenleistung erhalten Nutzer Prämien wie Online-Rabatte oder einen Kaffee am Bahnhof. Was die App bietet Streckenerfassung per Smartphone Belohnungen für teilnehmende Nutzer (z. B. Rabatte, Kaffee) Datenbereitstellung für die Verkehrs- und Infrastrukturplanung Hintergrund Die Aktion läuft bereits seit fünf Jahren, war bisher aber nur in ausgewählten Städten aktiv. Mit dem deutschlandweiten Start sollen nun flächendeckendere Daten zur Verbesserung der Radwege entstehen. Datenschutz & Hinweise Verwendung und Speicherung der Fahrdaten sollten anonymisiert erfolgen. Nutzer sollten die Datenschutzhinweise in der App prüfen, bevor sie ihre Strecken teilen. Mehr Infos Mehr Informationen finden Sie auf der…

Apple iPhone 17 event — what to expect (Sept 9, 2025) Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup tomorrow, Sept 9 at 1PM ET. Rumors point to four new phones, iOS 26, refreshed Apple Watch models and updated AirPods. Watch the livestream: Apple event on YouTube. Official Apple events hub: Apple Events. Quick summary Models expected: iPhone 17 Air (ultra-thin), iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max OS: iOS 26 preinstalled with features like Liquid Glass visuals, Visual Intelligence, live translation in Phone/FaceTime/Messages, redesigned Phone & Photos apps Accessories & other hardware: new Apple Watch models (Series 11, possible Ultra 3, updated SE) and AirPods Pro 3 (rumored heart-rate monitoring & live translation) Key rumors: brighter Pro displays, battery capacity increases for some Pro models, new aluminum/titanium materials,…

Meta allegedly suppressed VR safety research on children Summary: Reporting by The Washington Post and Engadget says current and former Meta employees presented documents to Congress alleging that internal research showing children being exposed to predators in Meta's VR platform was edited to remove the worst incidents. Researchers claim at least one child under 10 was sexually propositioned while using a Meta VR headset; Meta denies the allegations. Key points Employees presented documents to Congress describing grooming incidents in Meta VR and say internal reports omitted the worst offenses. Researchers reported meeting a German family whose child under 10 was allegedly approached and sexually propositioned; they say those claims were removed from the internal report. Documents reportedly include legal guidance limiting data collection about children due to regulatory concerns, and…

OpenAI backs 'Critterz' — a mostly AI-generated animated feature OpenAI is supporting a feature-length animated film called Critterz, expanding on a 2023 short by Chad Nelson that used DALL·E to generate visuals. The film mixes AI-generated imagery with human voice acting and traditional artistry. Producers include London-based Vertigo Films and LA’s Native Foreign. Key facts Concept: Forest creatures go on an adventure after their village is disturbed by a stranger. Technology: Visuals generated with OpenAI’s DALL·E (and related tools); artists and voice actors will be hired. Budget & schedule: Target budget under $30M and production in ~9 months — far less time and money than a typical Hollywood animated picture. Creative team: Script contributors include writers behind Paddington in Peru. The project aims to premiere at Cannes. Why it matters…

Apple TV+ wins 15 Creative Arts Emmy Awards ahead of the main ceremony Apple TV+ secured 15 awards at the first night of the 77th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, taking home multiple honors in technical and creative categories ahead of the main Emmy telecast on Sept 14, 2025. Notable winners among Apple titles included: Severance The Studio Shrinking Slow Horses The Creative Arts Emmys recognize achievements in areas such as casting, sound mixing, visual effects and other crafts. For the full official winners list and detailed breakdown, see the Television Academy's winners page and Apple’s newsroom release linked below. Sources: Television Academy – Creative Arts winners, Apple Newsroom. Which Apple series was your favorite this season? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Signal launches end-to-end encrypted cloud backups (Android beta) Signal has begun beta testing a new cloud backup system, initially rolling out on Android. The service stores end-to-end encrypted backups that only users can unlock with their unique encryption key. Signal says cross-platform restore support (Android ↔ iOS) is a goal for the future. Key points End-to-end encrypted backups stored on Signal’s servers; only accessible with the user’s encryption key. Cross-platform restore planned so users can move chats between Android and iOS. Media offloading to reduce local storage; different storage tiers available. Free tier: all messages + ~45 days of recent media (exact details may vary by region). Paid option for extended storage (examples mention ~100GB for about $1.99/month; pricing and availability may vary). Paid backups currently rely on Google Play…

Paramount+: 50% Off Annual Subscriptions (Limited Time) Paramount+ is offering 50% off its annual plans through September 18. That brings the Essential plan (with ads) to $30 for one year and the Premium plan to $60 for one year. Key details Pricing: Essential (with ads) — $30/yr; Premium — $60/yr. Eligibility: Offer available to new and returning subscribers during the promotion period. Payment: You must pay for the full year up front; month-to-month pricing is unchanged. Offer end date: September 18. Notable content Paramount+ includes a variety of programming, including RuPaul-related shows, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, other Star Trek series, live sports, and (with Premium) Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter. Sign up or find more information on the official Paramount+ site:…