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Video Games Weekly — Climbing Games Spotlight Summary of Jess Conditt’s Engadget column: a new weekly column (essays + roundup) that highlights the emotional power of climbing games — and why the falls are as meaningful as the summits. Climbing games to watch Cairn — A survival-climbing simulator from The Game Bakers. Manage inventory, bandage wounds, forage and sleep under the stars. Release: Nov 5, 2025 (PS5, Steam). Store: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=Cairn Baby Steps — A humorous, mechanical climb about a man in a onesie learning to walk. Published by Devolver Digital. Release: Sept 23, 2025 (PC, PS5). Store: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=Baby+Steps PEAK — Co-op climbing with rotating maps and proximity voice chat; beloved by streamers. Available on Steam (approx $8). Store: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=PEAK Other indie & AA highlights mentioned Jess lists many upcoming indies…

South Korea to Ban Smartphones in Elementary & Middle School Classrooms (Effective March 2026) South Korea's National Assembly has passed a law banning smartphones and other smart devices in elementary and middle school classrooms, taking effect March 1, 2026. The measure prohibits device use during class hours and grants principals and teachers authority to stop students from carrying or using phones on school grounds. Key points Effective date: March 1, 2026. Scope: Applies to elementary and middle schools; device use is prohibited during class hours and, broadly, on school premises. Exceptions: Allowed in emergencies, for approved educational purposes, and for students who require assistive devices. Enforcement: Principals and teachers can prevent students from carrying or using phones; the law does not prescribe specific punishments for violations. Context and public reaction…

Dynamic electricity tariffs will be billed every 15 minutes — Tibber prepares for Oct 2025 Summary: From autumn 2025 electricity prices in Germany will be settled in 15-minute intervals to match changes in European market trading. Tibber, a major provider of dynamic tariffs, has announced it will switch to 15-minute pricing to reflect the new market cadence. Key points Why the change: European electricity trading is moving from hourly to 15-minute settlement, so retail prices will follow. Timing: The switch is scheduled for autumn 2025 (targeted for 30 Sept / Oct 2025). Impact for consumers: More granular prices should let you shift consumption to cheaper 15-minute windows, especially with a smart meter and smart controls. Providers: Tibber has confirmed plans to adopt 15-minute pricing. Other suppliers trading on the exchange…

Labor Day Tech Deals — Best Picks Labor Day brings savings across tech — from laptops and tablets to robot vacuums, headphones and services. Deals are great for students and anyone heading back to campus, but most offers are open to everyone (no student ID required). Top highlighted deals Apple MacBook Air (13" M4) — $799Thin, light, long battery life and faster M4 chipset. Find it on Amazon: MacBook Air (M4) on Amazon. Apple iPad (11" A16) — $299Good performance and 128GB base storage for a budget tablet. Amazon: iPad 11" (A16) on Amazon. Apple iPad Air (11" M3) — $449Richer display, stronger speakers, and M3 performance. Amazon: iPad Air 11" (M3) on Amazon. Google Pixel 10 — bundles & gift cardsPre-order bundles include Amazon gift cards. Amazon search: Pixel…

Parallels Desktop: new late‑summer release and reported update issues The makers of Parallels Desktop released a new late‑summer update. The new version’s name contains a surprise — there’s no “Parallels Desktop 21” as some expected. Instead, Parallels continues with recent 20.x builds and updates. What’s happening Release: Parallels published a late‑summer Desktop update with a change in naming. Reported issues: Several users report Windows 11 running in Parallels (particularly ARM builds) having trouble receiving feature updates (notably 24H2). Symptoms include stalled updates, error codes, or the OS claiming end‑of‑service. Where to get official info and fixes Parallels official product page: https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/ Parallels Knowledge Base (update & troubleshooting): KB: Troubleshooting Windows Update in Parallels KB: Windows on ARM & Parallels notes Discussion & reports from users: Parallels Forum (search for Windows…

Return to Silent Hill — New Teaser Trailer & Details The official 40‑second teaser for Return to Silent Hill is out now — moody fog, eerily empty streets, terrifying monsters and a very brief glimpse of the iconic Pyramid Head. The film adapts the 2001 survival‑horror classic Silent Hill 2. Quick facts Trailer length: ~40 seconds (YouTube) Director: Christophe Gans (also directed the 2006 Silent Hill) Cast: Jeremy Irvine as James Sunderland; Hannah Emily Anderson as Mary Premise: James Sunderland returns to Silent Hill after receiving a letter that appears to be from his deceased wife, Mary. Release window: January 2026 (theatrical) Pyramid Head: Brief glimpse appears in the teaser; classic monsters are expected to feature. Watch Official teaser trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eej34Jw7woA Further reading Coverage with embedded trailer: Bloody Disgusting…

MasterClass Labor Day Sale — 50% Off Annual Memberships MasterClass is running a Labor Day promotion offering 50% off annual memberships — lowering prices to roughly $5/month ($60/year) for Standard, $8/month ($96/year) for Plus, and $10/month ($120/year) for Premium. The discount applies to the first year and purchases must be completed by September 1, 2025. What you get Access to hundreds of video classes taught by top experts (examples: James Patterson on writing, Thomas Keller on cooking, Steph Curry on basketball). Each class typically includes ~20 video lessons (about 10 minutes each) and an in-depth workbook. MasterClass also produces original series like Business Rebels and educational mini-series such as Skin Health. Subscription tiers (annual billing) Standard — Normally $120/yr; discounted to ~$60/yr (~$5/mo). Supports 1 device. No offline downloads. Plus…

Plaud Note Pro: New Compact Recorder with 50-Hour Recording Plaud has introduced the Plaud Note Pro, a credit-card-sized digital voice recorder that reportedly offers up to 50 hours of recording time. The Note Pro is described as more powerful than previous models in Plaud's lineup and comes in a compact housing designed for portability. Format: credit-card-sized compact design Recording time: up to 50 hours Improved performance compared to earlier Plaud models Original coverage: iphone-ticker.de (no direct RSS link included). Product / purchase search: Search Plaud Note Pro on Amazon Note: This post summarizes the announcement; check the manufacturer or retailer pages for full specs and availability.

NordVPN two-year deals — Plus for $108 (73% off) and Prime for $189 (77% off) — plus 3 months free NordVPN is running a limited-time promotion: the 2-year NordVPN Plus plan is $108 (about 73% off) and includes three extra months free — giving you 27 months of service. The Prime plan is offered at $189 (about 77% off) with the same 3-month bonus. Both plans carry NordVPN’s standard 30-day money-back guarantee. What’s included Plus (included features): Threat Protection Pro (anti-malware), password manager, ad & tracker blocker, NordVPN VPN service across a large server network. Prime (adds): Encrypted cloud storage, NordProtect identity-theft monitoring (dark-web monitoring and insurance). Verdict / notes Independent reviews praise NordVPN’s fast download speeds, extensive server network and useful extras like Threat Protection Pro. Some reviewers note…

Chipolo launches rechargeable Loop and Card Bluetooth trackers Chipolo has added two rechargeable Bluetooth trackers to its lineup: the Chipolo Loop and the Chipolo Card. Both are compatible with Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find Hub and are available for pre-order on Chipolo’s website. Key features Price: $39 each (pre-order) Compatibility: Apple Find My & Google Find Hub Range: Up to 400 ft Bluetooth range Water & dust resistance: IP67 (waterproof up to 1 m for 30 min) Ring phone from silent: Both can make your phone ring by pressing the tracker button Chipolo Card The Card is thin enough to slip into a wallet and includes a speaker (about 110 dB) to help you locate it. It comes in black and supports Qi wireless charging — Chipolo says…