Signal urges Germany to stand firm against EU "Chat Control" Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, has publicly criticized the proposed EU "Chat Control" regulation, warning that measures to scan private messages would fundamentally undermine end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and user privacy. Whittaker has called on Germany to take a clear and firm stance against the proposal, arguing that Germany’s position could be decisive for privacy protections across Europe. Key points: Signal says the regulation risks turning encrypted messaging into a vector for mass surveillance by requiring content scanning or "upload moderation" that breaks or weakens E2EE. Whittaker has warned that, if forced to comply, Signal may need to reconsider operating in regions that enforce such surveillance measures. Reports indicate there's pressure on Germany and some uncertainty about whether it…

October Prime Day LEGO deals — up to 56% offAmazon's October Prime Day has discounts on many LEGO sets, including Star Wars and Super Mario collections. Highlights include large discounts (up to 56% off) on recent sets and advent calendars — a great moment to pick up early holiday gifts or treat yourself.Note: Before buying, we recommend checking price trackers like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to confirm whether a price is truly a new low.Highlighted dealsLego City Advent Calendar 2025 (60475) — $21 (40% off) — Buy on AmazonLego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 (75418) — $31 (30% off) — Buy on AmazonLego Star Wars: The Mandalorian Paz Vizsla and Moff Gideon Battle set (75386) — $17 (56% off) — Buy on AmazonLego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379) — $80 (20% off)…

Blink Mini 2 — 2‑Pack for $34.99 (Record Low) Prime Day deals are here and one standout is a Blink Mini 2 duo pack for just $34.99 — about 50% off and a record‑low price. This is a great budget pick for indoor security and a top budget camera choice. Why it’s worth considering 1080p HD video, day or night Color night vision with built‑in LED spotlight and low‑light sensor Wider field of view than the previous model Two‑way audio and Alexa compatibility Person detection available (requires Blink Subscription) Price & availability The current deal lists a 2‑pack at $34.99 — a record low. Colors shown include black and white (may not be mix‑and‑match in the same bundle). Availability and pricing can change quickly during the sale, so check Amazon…

Amazon Smart Plug — Prime Day Deal: $13 Prime Day brings a big discount on the Amazon Smart Plug, now available for $13 (regularly $25). It’s one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add smart control to lamps, fans, and other plug-in devices. Key features Alexa-native: Hands-free voice control with Echo devices. App control and scheduling: Set timers and daily schedules from the Alexa app. Works with most household devices within its rated capacity (check the product details for watt/amp limits). Price & availability Current Prime Day price: $13. Offers during Prime Day are typically limited-time and may require an active Prime membership — check the Amazon listing for real-time availability and any bundle options. Product search (affiliate tag): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Amazon+Smart+Plug&tag=f1rede-20 Who should buy it? If you already use…

Rabbit R1’s Redemption: RabbitOS 2, Creations, and the ‘Rebirth’ Play The Rabbit R1 — once criticized for buggy software and limited functionality — has received a major software update: RabbitOS 2. The update improves touch responsiveness, introduces a colorful card-based UI, and launches Creations, a voice-driven system that lets users "vibe code" custom apps using the R1’s AI agent, Intern. What’s new in RabbitOS 2 Card-based interface and better touchscreen gestures for quicker navigation. Quality-of-life improvements (offline voice memo transcription, improved settings access). Creations: describe an app, answer clarifying questions, and Intern builds it — no manual coding required. Creations & Intern Creations evolve Teach mode into a smoother workflow. Intern understands R1 hardware and creates apps tailored to the device — I made a working guitar tuner in about…

ECOVACS cuts prices ahead of Prime Deal Days — X9 PRO OMNI & X11 OmniCyclone discounted Right before the Prime Deal Days (starting Oct 7), ECOVACS has reduced prices on several vacuum, mopping and window-cleaning robots. Notable moves include the X9 PRO OMNI with a price cut of more than €700 and the new X11 OmniCyclone appearing with its first discounts. The X9 PRO also ships with a mopping roller (Wischwalze). Highlights X9 PRO OMNI — reported price drop of over €700; now also available with a mopping roller. X11 OmniCyclone — a new model being discounted for the first time during the Prime Deal Days promotions. Discounts apply across ECOVACS’ lineup: vacuums, mops and window robots. For shopping options, check the Amazon searches (affiliate): ECOVACS X9 PRO OMNI on…

Pickshot for iOS — Export Photos & Live Photos from Videos Pickshot is an iOS app that lets you extract individual frames from video files at full quality. Instead of taking a screenshot, Pickshot lets you step through your video frame-by-frame, select the exact frame you want, and save it as a photo or a Live Photo — preserving the original quality and HDR data. Key features Frame-accurate extraction from videos Save as Photo or Live Photo Preserves original video quality (no screenshot loss) Simple frame-by-frame scrubbing and export How to use Open Pickshot and load a video from your library. Scrub frame-by-frame to the desired moment. Tap to export the current frame as a Photo or Live Photo. Price & availability Pickshot is available on the Apple App Store.…

Best webcams for 2025 — buying guide and picks A good webcam makes a big difference for work calls, streaming or catching up with friends. Built-in laptop cameras often fall short; an external webcam gives you sharper video, better colors and features like background control and low-light correction. Quick picks Logitech Brio 500 — search on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Logitech+Brio+500&tag=f1rede-20 Logitech C920s Pro HD — search on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Logitech+C920s+Pro+HD&tag=f1rede-20 Why upgrade? External webcams typically offer higher resolutions, better color reproduction, improved low-light performance and features like autofocus, auto-framing and stronger microphones. Factors to consider Resolution & frame rate 1080p is the sweet spot for most people; look for 1080p at 30 or 60fps. 4K exists but is overkill for most conferencing and streaming use. Field of view (FOV) FOV determines how much…

Best Geek Advent Calendars for 2025 — LEGO, Pokémon, Funko Pop & More Advent calendars have moved beyond chocolate — now you can unwrap mini LEGO builds, Pokémon surprises, Funko Pop figures, Star Wars items and more every day in December. Here are top geeky countdowns to watch in 2025, with quick notes and shopping links. LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 Official product page: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 75418 Quick note: Daily mini builds and micro-figures — LEGO lists it at $44.99 for 2025. Find on Amazon: Search LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 on Amazon (affiliate link). Pokémon Advent Calendar 2025 Quick note: Popular seasonal item for collectors; specific 2025 listings vary by retailer. Try Amazon search (affiliate): Search Pokémon Advent Calendar 2025 on Amazon. Funko Pop…

Anker Laptop Power Bank (25K, 165W) — Prime Deal Days: First time under €75 Summary (translated): During the Prime Deal Days starting tomorrow, Anker's large laptop power bank with 25,000 mAh capacity is available for the first time at €74.99. The portable battery has built-in USB‑C cables and can charge up to four devices simultaneously. It's aimed especially at users of MacBook, iPad and iPhone who need high charging power on the go. Key details Product: Anker Laptop Power Bank (25K, 165W), model A1695 Capacity: 25,000 mAh Max output: up to 165W (power delivery) Cables: built-in / retractable USB‑C cables Simultaneous charging: up to 4 devices Prime Deal Days price: €74.99 (first time below €75) Official Anker US price (at time of posting): $119.99 Amazon US search (affiliate): Search for…