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Hidden Links: 18 popular Android VPN apps secretly linked and insecure A new peer-reviewed study presented at the Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium (PETS) finds that 18 of the 100 most-downloaded VPN apps on the Google Play Store are secretly connected in three large "families," despite claiming to be independent providers. The study also discovered shared infrastructure problems and security flaws that put users at risk. Key findings 18 VPN apps were grouped into three families using evidence from business records, web presence and code similarities. Family A: Turbo VPN, Turbo VPN Lite, VPN Monster, VPN Proxy Master, VPN Proxy Master Lite, Snap VPN, Robot VPN and SuperNet VPN — linked to providers (Innovative Connecting, Lemon Clove, Autumn Breeze) with ties to Qihoo 360. Family B: Global VPN, XY VPN, Super…

iPhone 17 event (Sept 9) & iOS 26 — What to Know The Apple iPhone 17 event is on Tuesday, September 9. Apple is expected to release iOS 26 to the public in mid-September (likely within a week after the event). If you don’t want to wait, the iOS 26 public beta is available now. Official links: Apple event: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/?useASL=true Download public beta: https://beta.apple.com AirPods Pro (Amazon search w/ affiliate tag): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=AirPods+Pro&tag=f1rede-20 Headline changes in iOS 26 Liquid Glass: A new translucent aesthetic across apps, lock & home screens. Live Translation: Real-time translation in Phone, FaceTime & Messages. Hold Assist: Get notified when an agent picks up so you can stop waiting on hold. Phone app redesign: Contacts, recents & voicemail on one screen. Photos: Tabs (Library & Collections) return;…

Honda teases full-size electric motorcycle — Sept 16 reveal Honda has shared a teaser video (via its UK Instagram) of what appears to be its first full-size electric motorcycle, with an official reveal expected on September 16. The camouflaged bike resembles the EV Fun Concept shown at EICMA 2024 and is said to support CCS2 fast-charging with a claimed cruising range of about 100 km — positioning it as a city/commuter-focused e-motorcycle. What we know Reveal date: September 16 (teaser confirmed by Honda UK). Design: Strong resemblance to the EV Fun Concept from EICMA 2024. Charging: Reportedly compatible with CCS2 fast charging (European standard). Range: Honda has suggested a cruising range of ~100 km. Availability: Teaser was posted on Honda UK and tested on European streets — initial launch appears…

LEGO Reveals the Ultimate Death Star — 9,000+ Pieces, $1,000 LEGO has unveiled the Ultimate Death Star set: a massive cross‑section model that recreates many interior locations from the Star Wars films. The set features over 9,000 pieces and ships with 38 minifigures, including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine — plus a tongue‑in‑cheek stormtrooper-in-a-hot-tub minifigure nodding to the LEGO Star Wars video games. Key details Piece count: 9,000+ pieces Minifigures: 38 Price: $1,000 (LEGO's most expensive set to date) Design: Cross‑section interior (not a full sphere), allowing recreation of scenes like the trash compactor, Palpatine's throne room, Leia’s cell, tractor beam control and a shuttle hangar. How it compares While it’s LEGO’s priciest set ever, it’s not their largest by piece count — the LEGO Eiffel Tower set…

Belkin UltraCharge Magnetic Charger 25W — IFA 2025 roundup Belkin unveiled its new UltraCharge lineup at IFA 2025, headlined by a Qi2-certified 25W magnetic puck that promises fast wireless charging and a handful of thoughtful design touches. Key features Qi2-certified 25W charging — Belkin claims roughly 0→50% in around 30 minutes on compatible iPhones. Collapsible kickstand that doubles as a PopSocket-style grip for tabletop use and better viewing angles. ChillBoost passive cooling tech to reduce heat buildup and protect battery longevity. 6.6 ft (2 m) charging cable included. Availability & pricing Belkin says the UltraCharge Magnetic Charger 25W will be available in October 2025. The UK retail price was reported at £30; US pricing has not been confirmed. Where to learn more / buy Official Belkin product page: Belkin UltraCharge…

iOS 26: What’s New, Compatibility & Release Timing Apple’s iPhone 17 event is set for Sept 9, 2025. iOS 26 is expected to roll out about a week later (mid-September), with public beta builds already available (public beta 6 at the time of writing). Headline features Liquid Glass: A refreshed, cohesive UI across Apple OSes with floating icons, dark & all-clear modes, and 3D effects. Live Translate: Real-time translation in calls and messages — reportedly coming to AirPods too. Phone & Camera redesigns: Consolidated call/voicemail view, Hold Assist, simpler Camera UI, and a lens-dirty warning. Other: Polls in Messages, new lock screen options, adjustable alarm snooze, better screenshots with reverse-image search and ChatGPT integration. Compatibility Apple has indicated that iPhones announced in 2019 or later will be compatible with iOS…

TCL QM9K: First TVs with Gemini on Google TV, hands‑free mmWave & up to 6,500 nits TCL has announced the QM9K, its new flagship QD Mini‑LED television series. The QM9K is notable for being the first TV line in the industry to ship with Gemini on Google TV built in, offering a more conversational AI experience on the big screen. Key features Gemini on Google TV — natural language assistant via “Hey Google” for search, Q&A and smart‑home control. Hands‑free interaction — built‑in mmWave proximity sensor wakes the TV when a person approaches, enabling full hands‑free use of Gemini; distance and active hours are user‑configurable. Display — QD Mini‑LED panel with a “Zero Border” edge‑to‑edge WHVA screen. Local dimming — up to ~6,000 precise dimming zones for deeper contrast (claimed…

Google adds continuous 'Scroll & Translate' to Circle to Search Google's Circle to Search now supports a continuous "scroll and translate" mode that translates text as you scroll through content and even when you switch to other apps. That means you no longer need to restart translation each time the visible screen content changes. Key points Continuous translation while scrolling and when switching apps — Google says "there's no interruption." Enable it by opening Circle to Search, tapping the Translate icon, and selecting the "scroll and translate" menu option. Rolling out now to Android users, with Samsung Galaxy devices getting the update first. Circle to Search also gained one-tap actions for phone numbers, emails and URLs in a recent update. Why it matters This is useful for quickly getting context…

Threads adds text attachments up to 10,000 characters Meta has begun testing a new text attachments feature on Threads that lets users append long-form text blocks — up to 10,000 characters — to regular posts. The move is aimed at journalists, creators and anyone who wants to share longer excerpts or mini-articles without creating multi-part Threads. Key details Length: Up to 10,000 characters per text attachment. Formatting: Basic rich text options (bold, italics, underline) are available now; Meta says more formatting features are in development. View: On mobile, attachments open in a full-screen view; on web they open in a dedicated window. Link behavior: If a post contains a link, a preview of that linked post appears at the end of the text attachment. Fediverse: Text attachments are not compatible…

Tesla Robotaxi iOS App Now Available to All iPhone Users — What to Know Tesla has opened its Robotaxi iOS app to all iPhone users. You can now download the app from the App Store and join the waitlist to request rides. The Android version is not yet available but Tesla says it's coming. Where the service is operating Austin, Texas — Tesla has deployed Cybercab robotaxis there and is expanding coverage. Bay Area (San Francisco) — Tesla is testing rides with safety drivers behind the wheel; full driverless service in California is not yet authorized. Waitlist & access There is a waitlist to request rides. Business Insider reported some users were invited and able to use the service in about three hours after joining the waitlist. Expect to create…