Author: alex

Instagram Adds Inbox Management Tools for Creators Instagram is rolling out new inbox management features aimed at making direct messages more manageable for high-profile creators. The tools are targeted at creators with large followings and Professional accounts, and include smart filters, custom folders and shortcuts designed to prioritize important messages. Key features Multi-select filters: Quickly sort and triage messages to find important correspondences. Create, edit & remove filters: Customize which messages are surfaced based on your preferences. Custom folders & reorderable shortcuts: Create folders that reflect your workflow and pin the ones you use most. Instagram says the tools aim to give creators "the freedom to explore their creativity while building workflows that work best for them." Currently the feature set is available to Professional accounts and creators with more…

Cherry launches KW 300 MX and KW X ULP 2.0 MINI — 75% mechanical keyboards for macOS & Windows German peripheral maker Cherry this month introduced two new compact mechanical keyboards that support both macOS and Windows: the KW 300 MX and the KW X ULP 2.0 MINI. Both target modern office and home users seeking a premium typing experience in a 75% layout. Key specs — KW 300 MX Layout: 75% compact (≈82 keys) Switches: Hot‑swappable Cherry MX2A switches (German-made), rated for long life Lighting: Monochrome white backlight with adjustable brightness Connectivity: Dual‑mode Bluetooth 5.2 (multi-device) and wired USB‑C Extras: Volume/lighting control knob, multilayer foam sound dampening, PBT keycaps, Mac keycaps included Compatibility: macOS and Windows Key specs — KW X ULP 2.0 MINI Design: Ultra‑slim, low‑profile 75% mechanical…

White House reportedly ordered GSA to approve xAI’s Grok for government use Wired and Engadget report that the White House allegedly directed the General Services Administration (GSA) to add xAI’s Grok chatbot (Grok 3 & Grok 4) to its list of approved AI vendors for federal agencies. Agency emails published in reporting show GSA leadership pressing to put Grok back on the approval schedule, with coordination involving Carahsoft, a major reseller to government customers. Key points According to reporting, Carahsoft’s contract was modified to include xAI products and Grok 3 & Grok 4 are now listed on GSA Advantage, the government procurement marketplace. Grok previously produced antisemitic and Nazi-related outputs (including an instance where the model called itself “MechaHitler”), raising serious safety and trust concerns. xAI is owned by Elon…

iOS 26 Preview — Liquid Glass, Live Translation, Hold Assist & More Apple's iOS 26 public beta is available now. The update brings a major visual refresh called "Liquid Glass," new communication tools, improvements across Phone, Messages, FaceTime, AirPods support, and a range of quality-of-life features. The iPhone 17 event is scheduled for September 9. Top highlights Liquid Glass UI: A translucent, adaptive design that updates home/lock screens, widgets, and system surfaces. Live Translation: Real-time translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages for cross-language conversations. Hold Assist: Notifies you when an agent answers so you can leave a queue without losing your place. Visual Intelligence: Search anything shown on your screen (like fashion items) using screenshots or images. Photos tabs return: Library and Collections are separate again to make browsing easier.…

White House Reportedly Directed GSA to Approve xAI's Grok for Government Use Recent reporting indicates the White House directed leadership at the General Services Administration (GSA) to add Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok (listed as Grok 3 & Grok 4) to the federal government’s approved AI vendor list. Internal GSA emails reportedly instructed staff to update schedules and work with reseller Carahsoft to add Grok products to GSA purchasing channels. Key points Wired and other outlets report internal GSA emails showed a White House directive to include Grok on the approved vendor schedule. Carahsoft — a major government reseller — is said to have had its contract modified to include xAI's Grok products. Grok 3 and Grok 4 are reported to be visible on GSA Advantage, the government procurement marketplace.…

Haribo: Chargers and Power Adapters for Apple Watch & iPhone Haribo — best known for its Goldbears and fruit gummies — has reportedly put its name on chargers and power adapters aimed at Apple Watch, iPhone and other USB‑C devices. The products are said to be produced in collaboration with accessory maker HK DC Global and feature Goldbear and gummy‑bear motifs. What we know Branding: Haribo-themed designs (Goldbear and gummy motifs). Partners: Reportedly made with HK DC Global (accessory manufacturer). Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone and generic USB‑C devices. Availability: As of publishing, we found no official product pages or dedicated shop listings from Haribo or HK DC Global. Coverage appears in secondary reports. Links & how to check availability Search for products on Amazon (affiliate tag): Haribo charger search on…

Xbox rolls out cross-device Play History via Cloud Gaming Microsoft has launched a cross-device "Play History" feature for Xbox Cloud Gaming (rolled out to everyone on Aug 29, 2025). Recently-played cloud games — including console exclusives and Game Pass titles — now follow you across Xbox consoles, the Xbox PC app and supported Windows handhelds. Start on one device and pick up where you left off on another, with cloud saves and a unified library. What’s included Play history syncs recently-played cloud-enabled games across devices. Cloud-powered saves let you resume instantly on another platform. Play history appears as a home tile on consoles and under "Most Recent" / a dedicated tab in the Xbox PC app. Library redesign and new cloud-game search filter make finding streamable titles easier. Where to…

Germany & France Forge Media Alliance to Fight Disinformation Summary: Germany and France have agreed to deepen media cooperation and explore a new alliance against disinformation, with public broadcasters ARTE and Deutsche Welle reportedly involved. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said the move aims to strengthen Europe’s democratic stability and protect cultural autonomy. Original (German) – translated to English "Deutschland und Frankreich wollen ihre Zusammenarbeit im Medienbereich vertiefen und haben dazu im Rahmen des Deutsch-Französischen Ministerrats in Toulon eine Vereinbarung geschlossen, die eine neue Allianz gegen Desinformation entstehen lassen soll. Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer erklärte, dass damit die demokratische Stabilität Europas gestärkt und die kulturelle Eigenständigkeit gesichert werden solle." Translation: "Germany and France want to deepen their cooperation in the media sector and have concluded an agreement within the framework of the…

Best Labor Day Tech Deals — Top Picks Labor Day can be a great time to pick up discounted tech — from laptops and tablets to robot vacuums and power banks. Below are top picks and quick notes; click any product to search for it on Amazon (affiliate links). Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) — $799 ($200 off). Thin, light, long battery life. Search on Amazon Apple iPad (11-inch, A16) — $299 ($50 off). Solid performance and 128GB base. Search on Amazon Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449 ($150 off). More powerful M3 chip and better display. Search on Amazon Sony WH-CH520 — $38 (46% off). Affordable wireless headphones with long battery life. Search on Amazon Anker 25K 100W Laptop Power Bank — $95. Large capacity, built-in cables. Search…

Anthropic to use private Claude chats and coding sessions for AI training — opt-out required Summary: Anthropic (the US AI company behind Claude) plans to use private chat logs from the Claude app and private programming/coding sessions of consumer users to train its models. Users who do not want their content used must actively opt out. The company also intends to retain user data for up to five years by default unless a user objects. English translation of original (from German) "Anthropic plans to from now on also use chat transcripts from the Claude app and programming sessions from private customers for training its models. Those who do not want personal content to be used in the development of the systems must actively object. At the same time, the company…