Category: Uncategorized

Trump administration eyeing equity in Intel; TSMC & Micron likely exempt — CHIPS Act updates Last week reports surfaced that the Trump administration is considering taking an equity stake in Intel in exchange for federal CHIPS Act grants — a move that would mark a notable shift in how the U.S. funds domestic semiconductor capacity. Key points The administration reportedly discussed taking an equity stake in Intel tied to the $10.86B in CHIPS grants Intel received. Sources indicate companies like TSMC and Micron that recently expanded U.S. investments (TSMC’s Arizona fab; Micron’s facilities in Idaho, New York and Virginia) won’t be asked to give up equity. WSJ/other reports say TSMC executives even held preliminary discussions about returning subsidies if the government demanded a shareholder role. Legal experts note attempts to…

Best Labor Day Tech Deals (Top Picks) Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and a great time to hunt for tech bargains. Here are curated top picks and where to find them. Affiliate Amazon searches include our tag. Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $169 (example sale)Apple’s top earbuds for iPhone users: ANC, in‑ear fit and Apple features. Shop: AirPods Pro 2 on Amazon Apple Mac mini M4 — $499Compact desktop with M4 chip and improved ports. Shop: Mac mini M4 on Amazon Sony WH-1000XM5 — $274Excellent noise cancellation and comfort. Shop: Sony WH-1000XM5 on Amazon Google Pixel 10 bundle — $799 + gift cardPreorder bundles often include Amazon gift cards. Search: Pixel 10 on Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 (3 cam) — $100Wireless, battery‑powered security cams. Shop: Blink Outdoor…

Netflix in September: New movies & series — Highlights Netflix adds new films and series in September. One of the headline releases is Wednesday Season 2 Part 2, which is set to arrive on September 3. Below is a short summary and where to find the full list of releases. Highlights Wednesday (S2 Part 2) — premiere: September 3 Additional films & series added throughout September — full roster published by Netflix For the complete list and official details, see Netflix's announcements: https://about.netflix.com/en/news Source: consolidated reporting of Netflix's September slate (originally summarized by ifun.de).

Engadget Podcast — Pixel 10 Blowout & Gamescom Highlights This week’s Engadget podcast (hosts: Devindra Hardawar & Sam Rutherford) covers Google’s full Pixel 10 lineup and several Gamescom 2025 announcements. Key topics Pixel 10 & Pixel 10 Pro (+ Fold) — Google unveiled its Pixel 10 series. Official product pages will appear on Google Store when available. Quick Amazon search: Google Pixel 10 (Amazon search). Pro Res Zoom — Pixel 10 Pro promises up to 100x virtual zoom with AI assist, per podcast discussion. Pixel Watch 4 — Brighter screen and satellite connectivity mentioned; check Amazon search: Pixel Watch 4 (Amazon search). ROG Xbox Ally (Gamescom) — ASUS and Xbox announced an Xbox-focused ROG Ally handheld. Official details: Xbox announcement and ASUS ROG article. Amazon search: ROG Xbox Ally (Amazon…

Anker 20W USB‑C charger (with cable) — €9.99 deal in GermanyAnker is offering its compact 20W USB‑C wall charger (includes USB‑C cable) for €9.99 in Germany for at least the white variant. The charger is also sold in black, green and purple. While 20W is now the lower end for USB‑C charging, it remains suitable for many smartphones and everyday charging needs.Key detailsModel (reported): Anker 20W wall charger (2‑port, often listed as A2348)Ports: USB‑C (up to 20W) + USB‑A (up to ~18W; shared output when both used)Cable: USB‑C to USB‑C included (approx. 1.5 m)Colors: black, white, green, purpleSale price: €9.99 (white variant on Amazon.de reported); typical price around €17.99Notes20W is fine for topping up phones and some smaller devices, but larger devices or fast‑charging needs may benefit from higher‑wattage chargers.Where…

Serious accusations against Apple’s Fitness VP Jay BlahnikA German report (ifun.de) says Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president for Fitness Technologies, is facing serious allegations from current and former team members. They describe his behavior as abusive and inappropriate, and report that over the past three years more than ten employees took extended sick leave or time off due to working with him.Key pointsAccused: Jay Blahnik, VP for Fitness Technologies at Apple (employed since 2013)Allegations: outbursts, inappropriate and overbearing behaviorImpact: 10+ employees reportedly took extended sick leave or time off in the past three yearsThis post summarizes the report; readers should consult the original article for full details. Source: ifun.de

Best E‑Readers for 2025 — Quick Guide & Picks After testing about a dozen e‑readers, our top pick for most readers is the Kobo Clara Colour. For a low-cost, easy entry into ebooks the base-model Kindle is solid. If you want a device that does more than just display books (apps, stylus input, audiobooks), consider Boox models. Why e‑readers? E‑Ink screens mimic paper, reduce eye strain, read well in sunlight and use far less power than tablets — often lasting weeks on a single charge. Color E‑Ink adds a color filter on top of the black/white microcapsules; color clarity is lower (≈150 dpi) while black/white text remains crisp (≈300 dpi). Top recommendations Kobo Clara Colour — Best overall for most people. Color E‑Ink, compact, good value. Official Kobo page •…

Regenschirm: More Than Just a Rain App Regenschirm, developed by Niels Lohmann, is a free iOS app delivering highly precise rain radar and weather warnings tailored primarily for users in Germany. The app is ad‑free, contains no tracking and requires no in‑app purchases or subscriptions. Using data from the German Weather Service (DWD) and other public sources, Regenschirm predicts rain down to the minute for the next 60 minutes and offers detailed radar views. Recent updates expanded the app’s feature set to include wind maps, pollen counts, air quality (AQI), UV index, heat warnings, and soil moisture metrics that help highlight drought conditions. Other features: Multi‑location support with quick switching Apple Watch support with complications Notifications for severe weather and minute‑precise rain warnings Privacy‑focused: no tracking System requirements: iOS /…

UniFi Network 9.4 — simplifies configuration and optimization Ubiquiti has released UniFi Network 9.4, a major update introducing Object-Oriented Networking (OON) to simplify management of larger UniFi installations. OON lets you create objects (devices, groups or rule sets) to centrally manage firewall rules, routing, VPN access, QoS and client controls — making complex policies easier to apply and maintain. Key highlights Object-Oriented Networking (OON): Create reusable objects for devices, groups and policies to streamline access control, micro-segmentation, firewall rules, VPN and QoS. Expanded IPv6 support: Improved handling of IPv6 addressing and routing. Multicast management: Better performance and handling for multicast use-cases (casting, printers, etc.). New ISP metrics & flow visibility: Enhanced dashboard insights for ISP status and real-time traffic flows. Performance improvements: Backend upgrades for greater responsiveness and scalability in…

Meta poaches Apple AI exec Frank Chu — overview and context Reports (Bloomberg summarized by 9to5Mac, WebProNews and others) say Frank Chu, a senior Apple AI executive who led teams for cloud infrastructure, model training and search, has left Apple to join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. This move is part of a wider wave of Apple AI talent moving to Meta in recent weeks. Key points Frank Chu joined Meta’s Superintelligence Labs to work on AI infrastructure. He is reportedly the sixth Apple AI researcher to join Meta in about seven weeks. Meta continues to hire top AI talent even as it signals hiring slowdowns in other areas. This trend highlights intense competition for AI talent between Big Tech firms. Recent hires (reported) Ruoming Pang — previously at Apple (reported large…