Netflix brings party games to TVs this holiday season Netflix announced at the Bloomberg Screentime conference that it will roll out several party-style games playable on TV this holiday season. The new lineup is designed for group play — many are free to play with friends — and you can use your phone as a controller by scanning a QR code. Games announced Lego: Party — a premium title (reported around $40–$55 CAD in some coverage). Boggle Party — compete to find words in a timed jumbled-letter grid. Pictionary: Game Night — guess what friends are drawing. Tetris Time Warp — play through different eras of Tetris, from the 1984 original to the Game Boy classic. Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends — deduce which friend is the 'party crasher.' How…

Still-Available Prime Day Tech Deals — Quick Guide Prime Day has ended, but some solid tech deals are still available. Below are the top picks from the roundup, short notes on availability, and Amazon search links (affiliate tag included) so you can check stock and prices. Highlights Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum — $330 (about 39% off). Good entry-level Dyson with strong suction and multiple attachments. Amazon search: Dyson V8 Plus on Amazon. (Commonly available.) Amazon Kindle Scribe — $300 (about 25% off). Top E Ink tablet for reading + note-taking. Amazon search: Kindle Scribe on Amazon. (Available.) Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025) — $24 (40% off). Compact streamer with wide app support. Amazon search: Roku Streaming Stick Plus on Amazon. (Check availability.) Google TV Streamer 4K — $80 ($20…

Best microSD Express Deals for Nintendo Switch 2 — PNY & Lexar If you picked up a Nintendo Switch 2 and are filling it with games, you’ve probably thought about storage. The Switch 2 supports newer microSD Express cards, and right now there are some solid deals to consider. Deals to know PNY 128GB microSD Express — ~15% off, about $38. Great budget option and excellent value. Buy/search on Amazon: PNY 128GB microSD Express on Amazon (affiliate). Lexar Play Pro microSD Express — 512GB for about $88 and 1TB for about $158 (up to ~28% off). If you want a one-and-done purchase, pick the highest capacity that fits your budget. Performance notes Independent tests have shown small performance differences between brands. PNY was slightly faster when moving games from the…

California Passes Three New Internet Privacy Bills California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed three bills designed to strengthen online privacy for residents: AB 566, SB 361, and AB 656. Key points AB 566 — Requires web browsers to provide a universal opt-out toggle that signals businesses not to sell or share users' personal data, building on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to move from per-site opt-outs to a single browser-level setting. SB 361 — Expands the Data Broker Registration Law (Delete Act), giving consumers more information about which personal data data brokers collect and who else may have access to it. AB 656 — Forces social media platforms to make account cancellation straightforward and ensures that canceling an account triggers full deletion of the user’s personal data. Background &…

AltStore PAL announces major global expansion AltStore PAL, an alternative iOS app store that was introduced in the EU following the Digital Markets Act, is preparing a substantial worldwide rollout. The platform — one of the first officially approved alternatives to the Apple App Store in Europe — plans to expand to additional countries, including Japan, Brazil and Australia by the end of 2025, with further launches such as the UK expected in 2026. What’s changing AltStore PAL aims to offer a decentralized option for iOS app distribution outside Apple’s App Store. The expansion is driven by regulatory shifts (e.g., EU Digital Markets Act) and increased demand for alternative app distribution channels. Recent reports indicate AltStore has secured funding to support growth (see sources below). Why it matters For developers…

Jony Ive on Designing OpenAI’s Upcoming AI Device — DevDay Highlights At OpenAI DevDay, Apple’s former chief designer Jony Ive joined CEO Sam Altman on stage to discuss their collaboration on OpenAI’s planned AI device. The conversation focused on the interplay between industrial design and technical demands — especially compute power, infrastructure, and interaction logic — as they work to create a consumer-friendly AI product. Key points Design and engineering must align to address high compute and infrastructure needs. Interaction logic is central: how users naturally engage with AI hardware shapes design choices. The dialogue underscored craftsmanship and usability as priorities alongside technical feasibility. For more context and the session recording, see OpenAI’s DevDay page and event coverage: OpenAI DevDay — official page DevDay event video on YouTube What design…

RadioX for iOS: Online radio app now available in TestFlight After a major jump to version 5 in January, the online radio app RadioX is now available in a first test version for iPhone via Apple's TestFlight platform. The iOS beta brings the same core features found on the Mac and adds Apple CarPlay support. What to expect Core streaming and station features consistent with the macOS app Apple CarPlay integration for in‑car listening Beta delivery through TestFlight — you’ll need Apple’s TestFlight app to join and install the beta How to join the beta Install Apple's TestFlight on your iPhone, then open the RadioX beta link: https://testflight.apple.com/join/sB8BRAXX. If you prefer the App Store release page, see RadioX on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radio-x/id1533728775. Background The news was reported by iphone-ticker.de.…

Microsoft 365: macOS 13 Ventura support ends with Office v16.101 Microsoft has announced that the September 2025 update (version 16.101) will be the last release of Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 for Mac to support macOS 13 Ventura. After that, Office updates (security and feature patches) will require a newer macOS. What this means Office builds after v16.101 will require macOS Sonoma or later for installation and updates. Office apps on Ventura will keep working but will no longer receive updates (including security fixes) after Sept 2025. Microsoft’s policy is to support the most recent macOS releases; staying on older macOS raises security and compatibility risks. Recommended actions Check your Mac’s compatibility with macOS Sonoma (or newer) and plan an upgrade if possible. If you cannot upgrade, be aware that…

Best Digital Picture Frames for 2025 — Top Picks & Buying Guide Digital picture frames should be simple: a good screen, easy ways to upload photos, and a frame-like, unobtrusive design. Unfortunately, many budget models fall short — low-res screens, bad reflectivity, poor viewing angles, clunky software, and paywalled features are common issues. Top picks Aura Carver Mat — Best overall: great display with minimal glare and an elegant mat design. Amazon search PhotoSpring Classic — Best budget option: supports SD/USB and app uploads, no subscription required. Amazon search Google Nest Hub Max — If you want a smart display that doubles as a photo frame plus voice assistant functionality. Amazon search What to look for Screen quality: resolution matters, but brightness, reflectivity, viewing angles and color tone often affect…

European train Wi‑Fi: summary of Ookla analysis (Q2 2025) Modern high-speed trains are widespread in Europe, but onboard digital equipment — especially Wi‑Fi — still lags behind passenger expectations. An Ookla (Speedtest) analysis compared train Wi‑Fi performance across European countries. Key findings: Top performers (average download on trains): Sweden ~64.6 Mbps, Switzerland ~29.8 Mbps, Ireland ~26.3 Mbps. Germany: sits in the mid‑range with noticeably lower Wi‑Fi speeds than the leaders (not among the top performers). Main issues identified: limited coverage (tunnels, rural areas), insufficient onboard hardware/network equipment, and mobile backhaul capacity constraints. Passengers increasingly expect broadband-quality connectivity for streaming, social media and work — this puts pressure on rail operators and mobile providers to upgrade infrastructure both onboard and along rail corridors. What can improve train Wi‑Fi? Upgrade onboard Wi‑Fi…