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Spotify strengthens AI protections: disclosures, impersonation policy & spam filter Spotify has announced a set of policy updates to address AI-generated music and spam on its platform. The key measures include: AI disclosure in credits (via DDEX) — Artists can specify which parts of a track used AI (vocals, instrumentation, post-production) instead of a simple "AI/no-AI" label. Impersonation policy — Clearer rules and stronger protections against unauthorized AI vocal clones and deepfakes, with defined recourse for affected artists. New spam filter — A system to detect and tag uploads that use mass uploads, duplicates, SEO hacks, artificially short tracks and other spammy tactics; Spotify reports removing over 75 million spammy tracks in the past year. Spotify emphasized balancing creative freedom with protecting artists from bad actors and content farms. The…

Best October Prime Day Deals — Early Picks & Where to Buy October Prime Day is approaching and Prime members are already seeing early discounts. Below are top picks from the early sale period with quick notes and a link to search each product on Amazon (affiliate tag included). Apple iPad (A16) — $299 ($50 off). A faster base iPad with double the storage. Search on Amazon Apple Mac mini (M4) — $499 ($100 off). Compact desktop with M4 chip and 16GB RAM in base model. Search on Amazon Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449 ($150 off). Great productivity tablet with the M3 chip. Search on Amazon Jisulife Life7 handheld fan — $25. Portable fan with 5,000 mAh battery and wear-around-the-neck option. Search on Amazon Roku Streaming Stick Plus…

Tom: TomTom launches new warning system for drivers TomTom has introduced “Tom” — a new combination of its free TomTom app together with a traffic-warner called Tom by TomTom. The system provides real‑time traffic and hazard alerts and the Tom unit gives visual and audible warnings to drivers. The two components are designed to work together to improve on‑road safety. Key points What it is: A paired solution — TomTom’s app plus the Tom by TomTom traffic-warner (lights & sounds). What it does: Real‑time traffic and hazard alerts; warns drivers of possible dangers using light and tone signals. Availability: Announced recently and appears integrated with TomTom’s navigation ecosystem and some in‑vehicle solutions. No clear evidence yet that the Tom hardware is sold as a standalone product on major retailers like…

Forza Horizon 6 — Set in Japan (2026) Microsoft and Playground Games have officially revealed Forza Horizon 6 at Tokyo Game Show. The new entry takes the Horizon series to Japan and is slated for release in 2026, launching first on Xbox and PC. What we know Setting: Japan — Tokyo confirmed, plus rural and mountain areas (Mount Fuji featured in teaser). Release: 2026, first on Xbox and PC. Gameplay: No gameplay shown in the TGS teaser trailer; teaser focused on cultural trinkets and Mount Fuji visuals. Studio notes: Playground Games' Art Director Don Arceta cited Japan's "unique culture" — cars, music and fashion — as a reason for choosing the location and said the studio aims for an authentic representation. Features: Seasons will return; Japanese car culture will be…

OpenAI for Germany — SAP, OpenAI & Microsoft launch sovereign AI offering for public sector (from 2026) SAP, OpenAI and Microsoft have announced a joint initiative called "OpenAI for Germany". The program aims to make it easier for German federal and local administrations, as well as research institutions, to use advanced AI tools while meeting strict data sovereignty, privacy and compliance requirements. The rollout is planned to begin in 2026. Key points Partnership: SAP, OpenAI and Microsoft collaborating to provide an AI offering tailored to the German public sector. Technical base: The solution will run on SAP’s Delos Cloud, which is hosted on Microsoft Azure and is being prepared to support large AI workloads (reports cite expansion to thousands of GPUs). Goals: Enable AI-driven automation and productivity improvements in administrations…

Baseus launches PicoGo‑2 series: compact Qi2.2 magnetic powerbanks with built‑in USB‑C cable Baseus has expanded its PicoGo lineup with the PicoGo‑2 series — portable magnetic powerbanks that support the new Qi2.2 / MagSafe standard. The compact units come in 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh variants and combine magnetic wireless charging with wired convenience. Key features Qi2.2 / MagSafe compatible — up to 15W magnetic wireless charging for iPhones (PicoGo 5,000mAh model); higher-end AM61 variants advertise higher wireless/wired outputs. Built‑in USB‑C cable plus an additional USB‑C port for wired charging (20W+ support depending on model). Compact, ultra‑slim design with a rotatable kickstand for hands‑free use. Multi‑layer protection and low‑current modes for smaller devices. Capacity options typically include 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh. Availability & pricing The 5,000mAh PicoGo models are available from Baseus and major…

Surfshark VPN — Fast, Private, and Feature-Rich (Summary) Surfshark has rapidly grown since its 2018 launch into a major VPN contender. It now spans 141 servers across 100 countries and offers a full suite of privacy tools through Surfshark One and One+. Below is a concise breakdown of the review’s key findings and practical notes for users. Quick Verdict One of the best VPNs for casual users: excellent speeds, solid security, and useful extras. One-month pricing is high, but longer terms (especially 12–27 months) offer strong value. Recommended for most users who want a simple, powerful VPN. Highlights Speed: Mean worldwide download drop about 5.4% (fastest in current tests); upload drop ~3.6%. Security: Uses WireGuard, OpenVPN & IKEv2. No IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks detected; encryption verified by packet tests. Privacy: Based in…

Apple asks EU to repeal Digital Markets Act — feature delays & security concerns Apple has officially asked the European Commission to repeal the Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing the law has unintended consequences for users in the EU. The company says DMA obligations — such as supporting sideloading and enabling certain features on non-Apple devices — have delayed or blocked feature rollouts in Europe, including iPhone Mirroring, Live Translation via AirPods, and Maps features like Visited Places and Preferred Routes. Key points Apple requests the DMA be repealed while a more "fit for purpose" legislative instrument is prepared. The company says DMA requirements increase security risks for EU users by exposing them to fake apps, disguised malware, and third-party payment systems that may not allow refunds. In April, the…

Let your Mac read for you — premium voices & hotkey Many situations are more comfortable if you don't have to read text yourself. On macOS you can have text read aloud — useful for consuming long articles without staring at the screen and helpful when proofreading: errors often jump out when heard. What this does macOS Spoken Content (aka text-to-speech) lets your Mac read selected text, entire documents, or on-screen content. You can choose from many voices; some high-quality voices are offered as downloadable "enhanced" or premium voices. Quick setup Open System Settings (or System Preferences) > Accessibility (or Speech/Spoken Content). Find Spoken Content (or Speech) and enable speaking of selected text. Under Voices, choose a voice and download any enhanced/premium voice you want for higher quality. Enable or…

Apple Watch: Hypertension alerts arrive with watchOS 26 With watchOS 26, compatible Apple Watch models (notably Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2) can analyze optical heart‑sensor signals to detect patterns that may indicate high blood pressure (hypertension). When a concerning pattern is detected, users receive a Hypertension Notification in the Health app to prompt earlier medical follow-up. How it works The feature analyzes heart signal patterns collected over time rather than measuring blood pressure directly. It runs on supported models with watchOS 26 and requires an iPhone (iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26). Apple’s support documentation explains eligibility and setup details. Links & further reading Official Apple support: Hypertension notifications on your Apple Watch Explainer & setup guide: 9to5Mac — How to use Apple Watch’s hypertension…