Author: alex

Podcast: The curious calm before the iPhone 17 storm — episode summary We’re days from Apple’s Sept 9 iPhone 17 event, but enthusiasm seems low. In this episode Devindra Hardawar and guest Nathan Ingraham discuss why leaks and annual upgrade fatigue may have dampened excitement. They also cover the US v. Google ruling, upcoming Google/Alphabet announcements, and a handful of gadget headlines. Key takeaways iPhone 17 event (Sept 9) — Expectations are steady for multiple iPhone 17 models, but public hype looks muted after months of leaks and incremental updates. Source: TechRadar coverage. US v. Google (remedies ruling) — The judge’s remedies ruling did not require Google to sell Chrome or make major divestitures, though some restrictions on exclusive search deals were discussed. (Coverage/analysis: Mondaq summary and Public Knowledge reaction.)…

Paramount+ Annual Plans 50% Off — Save Up to 50% Through Sep 18 Paramount+ is running a limited-time promotion: annual subscriptions are 50% off. The Essential (ad-supported) plan is $30/year (regularly $60), and the Premium (mostly ad-free + Showtime access) plan is $60/year (regularly $120). This pricing is available to both new and returning customers but requires full upfront payment for the 12-month term. The offer ends September 18. Quick facts Essential: $30/year (was $60) — ad-supported Premium: $60/year (was $120) — ad-free except for live TV; includes Showtime titles Offer valid through: September 18 Who can get it: new and returning subscribers Note: You must pay for the full year up front; month-to-month plans remain at regular price. Cancel before renewal if you don’t want the standard rate after…

Tamagotchi Paradise — review summary and guide Tamagotchi Paradise reimagines the classic virtual pet as a gentle wildlife-conservation experience. Instead of focusing on a single, long-lived pet, Paradise emphasizes hatching, raising, and releasing many adorable Tamas across three planetary "Fields" (Land, Sky, Water), slowly populating a growing world. Key features New concept: A planet-and-ecosystem focus: hatch eggs, raise critters, then release them to the wild where they remain as background residents. The dial: A tactile zoom-and-scroll dial that reveals your planet, scrolls menus and appears in some minigames. It’s novel but settles into everyday use and works well. Caretaking & progression: More gamified: content and Fields unlock as you level up the planet. Early play is slow while you unlock features, but progression rewards discovery. Feeding & items: Easier, forgiving…

Best new computers to replace your old Windows 10 PC Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 on October 14. If your PC is old, you can use the 12-month Extended Security Updates as a temporary fix, but long-term you should consider replacing aging hardware — especially if you want Windows 11 features like Copilot+, Windows Recall, or Studio Effects. Quick laptop picks Surface Laptop 13.8-inchThe Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop is light, long-lasting (17+ hours in testing) and shows where Windows laptops are headed. More: Search Surface Laptop 13.8" on Amazon Dell 14 Premium (XPS 14)A luxurious-feeling notebook with an excellent screen; may be listed as XPS models. More: Search Dell 14 Premium on Amazon ASUS ZenBook S 14Powerful, great battery life (16+ hours), lightweight and has useful ports. More: Search ASUS…

Ugreen MagFlow: New Qi2 chargers deliver up to 25WUgreen has expanded its MagFlow series with three new wireless chargers (and a matching battery pack) based on the updated Qi2 standard. According to reports, compatible devices can receive up to 25W charging — a significant speed boost for phones that support the new standard.Key pointsNew MagFlow models from Ugreen use the Qi2 standard.Up to 25W charging for compatible devices.Includes wireless chargers and a battery pack in the lineup.Thinking of buying? Search for availability and options here: Ugreen MagFlow on Amazon (search)Note: Qi2 compatibility depends on your device — check manufacturer specs for Qi2 support.Source: summarized from recent product news.

James Webb's NIRCam Reveals Pismis 24 in the Lobster Nebula NASA, ESA, CSA & STScI — image credit: A. Pagan (STScI). The James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured a striking image of the young star cluster Pismis 24 at the heart of the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357), roughly 5,500 light-years from Earth. The image shows rugged, spire-like peaks of dust carved by intense radiation and stellar winds from massive infant stars. Instrument: JWST NIRCam (near-infrared) Region: Pismis 24, Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357), constellation Scorpius Distance: ~5,500 light-years Spire height: ~5.4 light-years (tip to base within the image) Notable star: Pismis 24-1 — actually at least two unresolved massive stars with a combined mass around 140× the Sun Below the peaks, super-hot stars (up to several times the Sun's…

Firaxis Layoffs Confirmed as 2K Restructures Firaxis Games, developer of Civilization VII, has carried out staff reductions in early September 2025. Multiple former employees who worked on Civilization VII and Marvel's Midnight Sons said on social media they were laid off. A 2K spokesperson confirmed a "staff reduction" at Firaxis, saying the studio is "restructuring and optimizing its development process for adaptability, collaboration and creativity," but declined to disclose exact numbers. What we know Reports indicate "dozens" of employees were affected, though 2K has not confirmed a headcount. The layoffs follow turmoil at another 2K studio, Cloud Chamber, which is developing the next Bioshock. Civilization VII launched in February 2025 and has continued to receive updates since release. Take-Two had previously forecasted growth for late 2025, making these cuts notable…

Best Apple Deals — Quick Guide Apple devices are in high demand, but there are still solid discounts on MacBooks, iMacs and accessories right now. Note: Apple is expected to announce new products on Sept 9, which could change prices. Highlighted Deals Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) — $999 (approx.) Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4 Pro) — $1,699 (approx.). Buy or search on Amazon: Search MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro on Amazon Apple iMac (24-inch, M4) — $1,149 (approx.) Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 (approx.). Buy on Amazon: Search Apple Pencil USB-C on Amazon Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $80 (approx.). Buy on Amazon: Search AirTag 4-pack on Amazon What to consider Deals may be limited ahead of Apple's Sept 9 event — prices could drop further after new-product announcements. Availability…

Nepal Blocks Major Social Media Platforms Over New Registration Law The Government of Nepal has blocked access to several widely used social platforms — including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Reddit and WeChat — after those services failed to register under a new directive requiring platforms to provide a local contact, grievance handler and a self-regulation officer. Platforms that registered, such as TikTok and Viber, were exempted and remain accessible. What happened A government directive required social platforms to register and appoint local compliance officers to operate in Nepal. Authorities warned unregistered platforms would be deactivated after a deadline; several major services did not complete the registration and were blocked. The government framed the move as an effort to curb online hate, rumors and cybercrime; opponents call it censorship…

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — Overview Bose has refreshed its flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with second‑generation updates: lossless audio over wired USB‑C, a new "Cinema" Immersive Audio mode, improved active noise cancellation (ANC) with adjustable/disable options, better battery life and power efficiency, and refined wear detection and standby behavior — all while keeping the price at $449. General availability is scheduled for October 2. Key specs & features Wired lossless audio: 16‑bit/44.1 or 48kHz over USB‑C (low latency for gaming). Immersive Audio — new "Cinema" mode: wider, forward soundstage for movie-like clarity and improved dialogue (also useful for podcasts/audiobooks). Improved sound: deeper bass at high volumes, more natural treble, and consistent clarity. ANC improvements: smoother handling of sudden environmental changes in Aware/transparency mode; option to fully disable or…