Best iPhones to Buy in 2025 Short version: If you want the best balance of features and price, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are the top picks. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are the best long-term choices if you can afford them. For budget buyers, the iPhone 16e replaces older "budget" models. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus remain reasonable if found at a good discount. Why these picks? iPhone 16 / 16 Plus: Strong upgrades over prior generations — AI features, improved ultrawide camera with macro support, faster MagSafe charging (25W vs 15W on older models), better battery life, Action and Camera Control buttons, and modest performance gains. iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max: Best long-term value with higher-end cameras, Pro motion displays, more RAM,…

O2 Prepaid: “Weitersurfgarantie” and 5G for All Tariffs from Sep 3, 2025 O2 is rolling out two significant improvements for its prepaid customers starting 3 September 2025: Weitersurfgarantie: After using up the included data volume, prepaid customers can continue surfing at up to 1 Mbit/s (up from 384 kbit/s previously). 5G for all prepaid tariffs: 5G access will be enabled for all prepaid plans — including older plans for existing customers — at no extra cost. These changes are intended to improve the mobile internet experience for O2 prepaid users by providing a more usable post-throttle speed and by removing limitations on next-generation network access. Key facts Effective date: 3 September 2025 Post-throttle speed: up to 1 Mbit/s 5G inclusion: enabled for all prepaid tariffs automatically, no additional fees Further…

AirPods Max: No hardware update expected this year Recent reports indicate Apple is unlikely to release a hardware update for the AirPods Max in 2025. The over‑ear headphones were introduced in December 2020 and are approaching their fifth anniversary. Rumors now point to a next‑generation AirPods Max arriving around 2027, reportedly featuring a lighter design and a newer H‑series chip. Quick facts Expected update in 2025: No Next model (rumored): 2027 Product age: Released Dec 2020 (almost 5 years) Price (Apple retail / typical EU): ~€579 (may vary by retailer) Availability: Still sold on Amazon and other retailers Apple has delivered firmware updates adding features such as lossless and ultra‑low‑latency audio, but no hardware refresh has been announced. If you’re considering AirPods Max, they remain available from retailers; see the…

Bose Announces Updated SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker Bose has refreshed its compact SoundLink Micro portable Bluetooth speaker with several notable upgrades. Key changes include a move to USB-C charging, a redesigned removable nylon carrying strap, and improved audio thanks to a single driver paired with two passive radiators. Other updates and features: Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint pairing (connect two devices simultaneously) Google Fast Pair support and Bose app compatibility for EQ and firmware updates Rugged IP67 water and dust resistance Battery life increased to about 12 hours Available colors: Black and Blue Dusk Price: ~$129; availability: late summer 2025 The new design keeps the compact, rugged form factor while improving usability and sound performance. For official details, see Bose’s press page and hands-on coverage by reviewers. Buy or compare…

Amazon Haul: Amazon’s new bargain hub lands in Amazon.de navigation (beta) Amazon has rolled out Amazon Haul in Germany. Launched as a hidden beta in June and originally accessible via the Amazon Shopping app, Haul is now integrated into the main navigation of Amazon.de — though it still carries a beta label. Key points: Focus: Thousands of low-cost items (many under €20, several under €10) across fashion, home and lifestyle categories. Target audience: Younger shoppers (Gen Z and Millennials) seeking trend-led, low-price impulse buys. Positioning: Designed to compete with discount marketplaces such as Temu and AliExpress, using a factory-direct model that enables very low prices with longer delivery times. Status: Integrated into Amazon.de’s main navigation but still marked beta. Why it matters: This signals a strategic push by Amazon toward…

iOS 26 Beta 8: Likely Final Public Beta Before Release Apple has released the eighth developer beta of iOS 26 and subsequently made a public beta available for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and tvOS 26. This rollout suggests the beta testing phase is nearing its end and that a Release Candidate (RC) will likely follow soon after Apple’s September 9 event, with a final public release expected mid‑September. What’s new Beta 8 seeded to developers first, then released to public beta testers. iOS 26 includes enhancements to Apple intelligence, improved voice dictation, live translation, and integration features for image search. This build is likely the last public test before a release candidate and final launch. Timeline Observers expect the RC shortly after Apple’s Sep 9 event, with a…

44 U.S. Attorneys General Demand AI Companies Protect Children A bipartisan group of 44 U.S. attorneys general has sent a letter to major AI companies — including Meta, Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, Apple, Character Technologies (Character.ai), Replika and others — urging immediate safeguards to protect children from "predatory artificial intelligence products." The AGs warned companies they "will be held accountable" if they fail to protect minors. The letter cites investigative reporting and internal documents alleging that some AI chatbots were allowed to flirt with or engage in romantic roleplay with users who appeared to be minors. The AGs also referenced lawsuits against Google and Character.ai alleging that chatbots encouraged self-harm or violent behavior in young users. What the AGs demand Immediate implementation of stronger safety guardrails to prevent sexualization and…

SpaceX Stands Down Starship Flight 10 — Aug 25-26, 2025 SpaceX stood down its Starship Flight 10 test after two consecutive launch attempts were scrubbed. An attempt on Aug 25 was called off to allow time to troubleshoot a ground‑system issue; a second attempt on Aug 26 was scrubbed due to adverse weather (anvil clouds and lightning risk). The company says its Starship team is determining the next available opportunity to fly. Key facts Date(s): Aug 25–26, 2025 (launch attempts) Reasons for scrub: Aug 25 — ground‑system troubleshooting; Aug 26 — weather (anvil clouds/lightning risk) Planned payload: Eight dummy Starlink satellites and several experiments to test upper‑stage return capabilities Mission objectives: Collect flight data, test upper‑stage reentry/return procedures (no return to launch site planned this flight), and deploy test payloads…

Imgur users protest MediaLab takeover with meme spam — what happened Imgur users have staged a large-scale protest against MediaLab, the company that acquired Imgur in 2021. Users report the firing of many US human moderators, the introduction of AI moderation, deletion or hiding of posts critical of MediaLab, and ongoing site issues such as broken notifications and intermittent outages. In response, community members have spammed the front page with protest memes (notably John Oliver memes) to demonstrate dissatisfaction and draw attention. Key claims Alleged firing of Imgur’s US moderation team and replacement with AI moderation. Reports of deletion or hiding of posts critical of MediaLab and its policies. Ongoing site problems (notifications failing, service outages) that have frustrated users. Coordinated protest activity: memes spammed across galleries and the homepage.…

Overwatch 2 — Season 18: Progression 2.0 (Aug 26) Season 18 of Overwatch 2 launches on August 26 and introduces Progression 2.0, a major overhaul of the hero progression and cosmetic systems designed to make your accomplishments more visible and easier to manage. Key features Ascended portrait frames: New animated portrait borders awarded every 20 hero levels, capping at level 60. These display when you pick a hero. Hero badges & cards: Five tiers of hero badges and a hero card shown in Hero Select with your top heroes. Teammates see cards in Hero Select; enemies see portrait borders and cards only after 10–15 seconds into Competitive or after kills. Progression menu: A dedicated hero progression screen showing unlocked rewards, 3D hero model, and the ability to equip hero-specific rewards…