Author: alex

TfL launches 'HeadphonesOn' campaign to reduce smartphone noise on London public transport Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new public information campaign, "HeadphonesOn", asking passengers on buses, the Tube and other public transport to use headphones when listening to music or taking calls. TfL surveyed 1,000 customers and reports that 70% said loud music or conversations over speakers disturb their journeys. The campaign — part of TfL’s wider #TravelKind initiative — uses posters and social media to encourage considerate behaviour and improve the experience for all travellers. Key points Campaign name: HeadphonesOn Survey: 1,000 customers; 70% affected by loud phone/music Measures: Posters across the network and social messaging Goal: Reduce noise disturbance and make journeys more pleasant Read the official TfL press release for full details: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2025/august/new-tfl-campaign-encourages-customers-to-use-headphones-on-public-transport Source: Transport…

Xcode 26 Beta 7: GPT‑5 and Claude Sonnet 4 Integration Apple has released Xcode 26 beta 7, which expands the IDE's "Coding Intelligence" capabilities by allowing developers to integrate external large language models directly in Xcode. The update adds support for OpenAI's GPT‑5 and Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4, letting developers use these models for code generation, assistance, and other AI-driven workflows. Key points Direct integration of OpenAI GPT‑5 and Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 into Xcode's Coding Intelligence features. Developers can connect paid Anthropic accounts via the Intelligence settings panel and choose GPT‑5 variants optimized for speed or reasoning. Option to use hosted APIs (OpenAI/Anthropic) or local models on Apple silicon for on-device AI assistance. Where to find more Official Apple release notes: Apple Developer — Xcode 26 beta 7 release…

iOS 26: What to Expect — Compatibility, Features & Release Window iOS 26: What to Expect — Compatibility, Features & Release Window Apple’s iPhone 17 event is set for Tuesday, September 9, and if history repeats itself, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 could arrive about one week later — around Tuesday, September 16. The new OS versions bring significant upgrades across iPhone and iPad, including a refreshed UI, improved Phone app, live translation via AirPods, and collaborative features in Messages. Key Features Liquid Glass design: A polished new look for app icons, floating buttons, dark-mode refinements, and a cohesive design across Apple's platforms. Phone app redesign: Scroll contacts, recent calls and voicemails on one screen, plus Hold Assist to notify you when an agent answers. Live Translate: Real-time translation for…

Meta brings AI-powered NPCs to Horizon Worlds Meta has announced that developers will soon be able to create AI-powered, voice-enabled NPCs for Horizon Worlds using the Worlds Desktop Editor. These NPCs can hold lifelike conversations, have customizable appearances, backstories, and behavioral instructions that govern how they respond to players. Key details Developers can create embodied, conversational NPCs via the Worlds Desktop Editor. NPCs support voice chat and can be customized with appearance, backstory, and response behavior. Meta’s rollout is coming "very soon"; some examples are already available in worlds like Bobber Bay Fishing and Profit or Perish. Reporting indicates Meta may be using Llama 4 for underlying generative AI capabilities. Why it matters This update lets creators move beyond scripted NPCs to dynamic characters that respond to specific player interactions.…

Microsoft launches MAI‑Voice‑1 and MAI‑1‑preview — two in‑house AI models Microsoft has announced two AI models trained entirely in‑house: MAI‑Voice‑1, its first natural speech generation model, and MAI‑1‑preview, a text foundation model trained end‑to‑end. The company is already using MAI‑Voice‑1 in Copilot Daily and Podcasts, while MAI‑1‑preview is available for public testing on LMArena and will be previewed in select Copilot scenarios in the coming weeks. Key facts MAI‑Voice‑1: First natural speech model from Microsoft. Engineered for efficiency — reported to generate quality audio on a single GPU. Currently used in Copilot Daily and Podcasts. MAI‑1‑preview: Text foundation model trained end‑to‑end. Reportedly trained on ~15,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs and is being publicly tested on LMArena. Training focus: Microsoft emphasizes efficiency and data curation — minimizing wasted compute and selecting high‑value…

Kobo eReaders Replace Pocket with Instapaper — What You Need to Know Rakuten has replaced the Pocket read-it-later integration on Kobo eReaders with Instapaper. The new integration is available globally via a firmware update and brings most of the same capabilities Pocket offered: access to saved articles, offline downloads, and basic library management (like, delete, archive). Key points What changed: Instapaper replaces Pocket as the native read-it-later service on all supported Kobo eReaders. Availability: Global rollout via firmware update; supported on the full Kobo lineup, including devices such as the Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Elipsa 2E. Features: Link your Instapaper account on the device to access your saved articles, download articles for offline reading, and like, delete, or archive items. Migration: Former Pocket users can import saved articles into…

How to Choose the Best Smartphone in 2025 — Key Tips & OnePlus 13 Highlight You might already have an idea which smartphone to buy, but 2025 offers more solid choices than ever. This guide breaks down the main things to consider so you can pick the right phone for your needs. Android or iOS? Apple’s ecosystem makes data sharing and handoffs seamless across iPhone, iPad and Mac, but it keeps you tied to Apple services. Android offers a wider range of hardware (Google, Samsung, Sony, OnePlus, etc.) but typically shorter software update windows and lower trade-in values. Consider what ecosystem your other devices use before switching. Cameras Most phones take excellent photos in good light. If you need long optical zoom or top low-light performance, expect to pay more.…

450+ Diablo Developers at Blizzard Unionize with CWA450+ Diablo Developers at Blizzard Vote to Unionize with CWAMore than 450 developers who work on Diablo at Blizzard Entertainment have voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union will represent designers, engineers, artists and support staff across the Diablo team.Organizers cited recent mass layoffs across Microsoft — Blizzard's parent company — and the wider games industry as key motivators. Kelly Yeo, a Diablo game producer and organizing committee member, said layoffs increased fear and uncertainty and helped drive the push to organize.“With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I've witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us.” — Kelly Yeo, Diablo game producerThis isn't…

Meta appears to be testing a new "Attach longer text" feature on Threads that lets users embed long-form writing inside a single post with basic styling options. The feature was spotted in limited iOS tests and allows viewers to open a full-screen or dedicated window to read longer text snippets. "Attach longer text and get creative with styling tools to share deeper thoughts, news snippets, book excerpts and more." Key points: Allows embedding longer text excerpts directly in a Threads post. Currently reported in limited testing on iOS; no wide public rollout announced. Attachments open full-screen on mobile and in a dedicated window on the web. Unclear whether these long-form posts will federate outside Threads (example screenshots suggest they may not be compatible with ActivityPub sharing). This experiment could help…

OpenAI plans new ChatGPT safety features amid US lawsuit OpenAI has announced new safety measures for its ChatGPT chatbot, aiming to better support users in emotionally distressing situations. The company frames the updates as part of its growing responsibility when assisting people in crisis. The announcement comes shortly after a lawsuit filed in the United States in which parents allege ChatGPT played a decisive role in their child's death. OpenAI says the changes are part of ongoing efforts to improve safety and user support. What we know OpenAI announced additional protections in a blog post; details will be rolled out to ChatGPT users. The timing follows a high-profile lawsuit in the U.S. accusing the model of contributing to a suicide. Source: ifun.de (original report) More links and coverage will be…