ExpressVPN moves to tiered pricing: Basic, Advanced & Pro ExpressVPN has replaced its single-plan model with a tiered pricing system effective today. Customers can choose between Basic, Advanced and Pro plans, each available as monthly, yearly or two-year subscriptions — giving nine total choices. Key changes Features are now tied to the subscription tier instead of the plan duration. Legacy plans remain active “for now” and existing customers won’t be downgraded. Identity Defender features (identity monitoring, credit reports, data removal, $1M insurance) are included in Advanced & Pro but are available only to US users. Maximum simultaneous connections increase to 14 on Pro. Tier highlights Basic: Core VPN (Lightway, Network Lock kill switch, split tunneling on supported OS), ad & malicious-site blocker, up to 10 devices. Prices: $12.99/month, $74.85/year, $97.72/2…

Netflix’s Tomb Raider animated series ending with Season 2 — full update Netflix has confirmed that Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will return for a second season on December 11. The season will also be the show’s final chapter. The animated series, produced by Legendary Television, premiered in October 2024 and stars Hayley Atwell as Lara Croft. What else is coming Live-action series: Amazon is developing a live-action Tomb Raider series; filming is reported to begin in January, with Sophie Turner attached to play Lara Croft. The project has high-profile producers involved. New game: Despite reports of recent layoffs, Crystal Dynamics is said to still be working on a new Tomb Raider title. Sources Official Tomb Raider announcement — Season 2 premiere Eurogamer — Season 2 confirmed as…

iPhone 17 roundup — what to expect (Sep 9, 2025) Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup on Tuesday, September 9 at 1PM ET. The new phones are expected to ship with iOS 26 and bring a mix of design, camera, and battery changes — though most details remain rumors until Apple’s announcement. Top rumors iPhone 17 Air: Extremely thin design, rumored silicon-anode battery for higher energy density, eSIM-only in some regions, possible titanium frame, and a single-camera setup. iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max: Better camera resolution via software optimizations (potentially improved zoom), brighter displays for sunlight use, revised antenna design for better reception, and possible all-aluminum chassis to cut weight. Battery & charging: Leaked numbers suggest the Air may have a smaller, thinner battery (~2,800 mAh reported for a test…

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…