iPhone 17 — Early Hands‑On: Crossbody Band, Battery & Flat‑On‑Table Impressions Apple relaxed its usual embargoes this year, letting select journalists try the new iPhone 17 models on site and publish early hands‑on videos. Early impressions highlight a few notable points: Crossbody usability: Reviewers noted a more comfortable feel with MagSafe-compatible straps and third‑party crossbody bands — Apple didn’t announce an official crossbody band, but MagSafe accessories work well for on‑the‑go carry. Battery life: The Pro Max stands out with noticeably better endurance in hands‑on tests, making it the best choice for heavy users and media playback. Design & durability: The 17 series uses a unibody aluminum frame with a Ceramic Shield insert for MagSafe, improving durability and reducing glare in some models. Front camera: The updated front camera (larger…

iPhone Air bend test: Apple execs demonstrate durability in live interview Apple executives Greg Joswiak and John Ternus took an unusually open approach to questions about the new iPhone Air's durability during recent video interviews. In a live on-camera moment, they encouraged reporters to try bending the ultra-thin iPhone Air — the device flexed slightly but returned to its original shape without damage. Key points: Thickness: 5.6 mm Frame: Grade 5 titanium (chosen to balance thinness and strength) Display protection: Ceramic Shield 2 for improved scratch and crack resistance The interviews and coverage were published by reputable tech outlets including Tom's Guide and TechRadar, and video excerpts are available online. See the demonstration video here: YouTube demo. Additional coverage and write-ups: Tom's Guide interview TechRadar coverage MacRumors summary 9to5Mac summary…

Best Laptop Power Banks for 2025 — What to Know Before You Buy If you travel or work away from your desk, a high-capacity laptop power bank can be a game-changer. These portable chargers (typically 20,000–27,000 mAh) can refill phones multiple times, top up tablets, and get laptops from near-dead to work-ready in roughly an hour. Below is a concise guide on what matters and how we tested the units. Flying with a laptop power bank Most portable batteries are limited to 100 Wh for carry-on (about 27,500 mAh at 3.6V). Batteries are not allowed in checked luggage. Recent onboard battery incidents have led some airlines (Emirates, Southwest and others) to add further restrictions—check your airline before flying. Capacity and real-world delivery Look for at least 20,000 mAh to meaningfully…

iPhone Survey 2025 — Results, Popular Models, Colors & Storage After around 10,000 votes in iphone-ticker.de's community poll, only 29% of respondents said they won’t buy a new iPhone — a notable drop from 43% last year. The survey is non-representative but provides a snapshot of community sentiment around the 2025 lineup. Key takeaways Stronger intent to upgrade compared with last year (only 29% say they won’t buy). Discussion centers on interest in the thinner iPhone Air vs. the redesigned Pro models (battery & antenna changes, new aluminum unibody reported). Reported starting prices for Pro models: around €1,299 (iPhone 17 Pro) and €1,449 (iPhone 17 Pro Max). Detailed breakdowns for favorite models, colors and storage choices are available in the original article linked below. Source and full breakdown: iphone-ticker.de —…

Best Gaming Keyboards — Summary & Picks Summary of a recent Engadget roundup of the best gaming keyboards: the guide prioritizes mechanical keyboards (especially TKL and smaller layouts), favors linear or analog-style switches for gaming responsiveness, and values solid build quality, PBT keycaps, hot‑swappability, and useful companion software. Wooting’s 80HE is named the top overall pick for its analog control. The guide covers options for compact builds, wireless setups, budget models, and high‑end magnetic/Hall‑effect keyboards. What to look for Mechanical vs non‑mechanical: Mechanical switches are preferred for durability and feel. Size: Tenkeyless (TKL) or smaller to keep your mouse close and reduce arm strain. Switches: Linear (red) for many gamers; Hall effect and optical switches offer analog features and custom actuation. Keycaps & build: Double‑shot PBT keycaps, stiff frames, stable…

AI roundup: Claude memory, ChatGPT developer mode & Microsoft’s plansThis week’s Apple event focused on new iPhones, but major AI advances came from other vendors. Highlights:Claude (Anthropic): Introduced persistent memory to remember user context across sessions.ChatGPT (OpenAI): Rolled out a developer mode to make integrations and testing easier.Microsoft: Shared plans to expand AI integration across its services and enterprise offerings.Apple’s own AI (Apple Intelligence) was more reserved during the event.For more details, see the linked coverage.

tado° limits REST API access — what you need to know Munich-based smart-home maker tado° will impose API rate limits starting this autumn, affecting third-party integrations (eg. Home Assistant, openHAB) that previously accessed many features through an effectively open REST API. Key points New daily query caps: ~100 requests/day without tado° Auto-Assist, and ~20,000 requests/day with Auto-Assist. Target date: rollout begins this autumn (2025). Impact: automations and integrations that poll devices frequently (thermostats, radiator valves, geofencing-based rules) may need redesign or may hit limits. Sources & further reading Home Assistant community thread (mail copy & discussion): community.home-assistant.io Related GitHub discussion (openHAB): github.com Home Assistant integration page for tado: home-assistant.io What users and integrators can do Reduce polling frequency and rely on events where possible. Move to official integrations or local…

Apple expands privacy portal: 20 data categories available for download Apple now lets users request downloads of their personal data across 20 distinct categories via its privacy portal. The change expands user access to information stored by Apple and restructures the "Data & Privacy" overview to make requests easier to manage. What’s included The portal offers data in downloadable formats. Examples of categories you can expect include: Photos & Calendar Contacts & Mail App and device information Purchase, order and subscription history Usage and diagnostics data Marketing preferences and account info Note: exact contents depend on your account and Apple’s data minimization/encryption practices; not all services will provide the same depth of data. How to request your data Go to privacy.apple.com Sign in with your Apple ID Select the categories…

Blackmagic Camera 3.0 — What’s new and why mobile filmmakers should care Blackmagic Design has released Blackmagic Camera 3.0 for iOS (and Android), landing on September 10, 2025. This update brings significant new features aimed at improving mobile filmmaking workflows and parity with pro camera controls. Highlights Clip syncing to controller: Remote syncing of clips from phones to the controller for smoother multi-device workflows. Reorganized toolbar & quick access: Redesigned navigation plus quick-tap access to presets, slate, camera controls and three programmable function buttons. Lens & zoom tools: Single-lens, zoom controls and new dolly-zoom options. Advanced FPS & time options: Enhanced FPS controls including off-speed and time-lapse modes. Camera light & histograms: New camera light controls and expandable histograms for better exposure monitoring. Built-in LUTs: Apple Log, Rec.709, Rec.2020, P3…

Resistance against "Chat Control" grows — 500+ researchers warn EU More than 500 researchers from 34 countries have signed an open letter urging EU governments to reject the proposed "Chat Control" regulation. They warn that the plan — which would require automated, suspicionless scanning of private messages, including end-to-end encrypted chats — is technically infeasible and threatens fundamental rights such as privacy and the confidentiality of communications. Key points Signatories: 500+ cryptographers, security and privacy researchers from 34 countries. Main concerns: Technical infeasibility of scanning end-to-end encrypted communications without breaking encryption; creation of a mass-surveillance system; threat to privacy, data protection and freedom of expression. Political context: Germany is reported to oppose the proposal; the EU interior ministers are due to decide soon. Why this matters Mandating universal message scanning…