Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Notable upgrades to a familiar formula Bose has released second‑generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, refining rather than reinventing its flagship over‑ear model. The update focuses on targetted improvements: better adaptive ANC, longer battery life across modes, lossless audio over USB‑C, and the Cinema Mode sound profile adapted from the earbuds. These changes make the headphones more practical for everyday use without waiting for a full redesign. The core strengths — comfort, strong noise cancellation and a roomy spatial sound profile — remain intact. Price: $449 Battery: up to 30h (ANC on, Immersive off); up to 45h (ANC off); up to 23h (ANC + Immersive) ANC: Improved ActiveSense that reacts faster to sudden noise spikes Audio: Lossless audio over USB‑C (16‑bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz depending on…

Apple wins exclusive US Formula 1 broadcast rights starting 2026 Apple has reached a five-year exclusive deal with Liberty Media to hold US broadcast rights for Formula 1 beginning with the 2026 season. The rebranded Apple TV will carry every Grand Prix, plus practice, qualifying and sprint sessions — while select races will be available for free in the Apple TV app. Key details to know: Start date: 2026 season (kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in March). Availability: All races and sessions on Apple TV for subscribers; some select races free to non-subscribers via the Apple TV app. Additional features: Live leaderboards, driver and constructor championship tracking, iPhone home-screen widget and Live Activities on the lock screen through the Apple Sports app. F1 TV: The standalone F1 TV…

Apple to Become Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Partner for Formula 1 (2026) Apple has been announced as the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner for Formula 1 beginning with the 2026 season. Under a multi-year agreement, live coverage — including practice sessions, qualifying and races — will move to Apple TV+, marking a major shift for how American fans will watch F1. The deal is reported to run for five years and significantly expands Apple’s sports portfolio, which already includes agreements for Major League Soccer and MLB’s Friday Night Baseball. Reports suggest Apple will pay substantially more than the previous rights holder, reflecting the company’s push into premium live sports content. Start: 2026 season Term: Reportedly five years Coverage: All live sessions on Apple TV+, with select races and practice sessions available for…

Wikimedia warns AI-generated answers are hurting Wikipedia traffic Wikimedia is raising concerns that the rise of large language models (LLMs), AI-generated summaries and chatbots is reducing direct visits to Wikipedia — a core source of verifiable online knowledge. In a recent blog post, Marshall Miller, Wikimedia's senior director of product, links an observed 8% year-over-year drop in page views to generative AI and changes in how search engines present answers. Wikimedia reports that improving bot detection changed its metrics and exposed a sharper decline in human page views. The foundation argues that when search engines and chatbots provide direct answers based on Wikipedia content, users may never visit the original articles — undermining volunteer engagement, funding and the site’s long-term reliability. Key points: Wikimedia recorded an 8% YoY drop in…

Apple Secures Exclusive US Formula 1 Rights — Apple TV to Stream Every Race from 2026 Apple has reached a five-year deal with Liberty Media to become the exclusive US broadcaster for Formula 1, with coverage beginning in 2026. Apple TV will carry every Grand Prix, along with practice, qualifying, and sprint sessions. Select races will be available for free in the Apple TV app. Key details: Start year: 2026 under a five-year pact. Coverage: Every Grand Prix plus practice, qualifying, and sprint sessions for Apple TV subscribers. Free access: "Select races" will be free for non-subscribers via the Apple TV app. F1 TV Premium: Will still exist in the US but will require an Apple TV subscription. Reported bid: Apple reportedly offered between $120M–$150M per year, outbidding ESPN's ~$90M/year.…

iPhone Air Sells Out Quickly in China, Outpacing US and Germany Apple’s new iPhone Air reportedly sold out almost immediately in China, with devices available for pre-order delivery on launch day disappearing fast. By contrast, the phone’s launch in countries like the United States and Germany was described as much calmer, with more stock available for day-one buyers. The South China Morning Post reported that pre-orders in China for delivery on the first sales day were exhausted quickly — a sign that demand for the ultrathin model is particularly strong there. This contrasts with the more muted openings seen in several Western markets. Reasons for the difference may include stronger consumer interest in lightweight devices in China, local promotional campaigns, or retail dynamics that favor quick sell-through. If demand in…

AT&T to Raise Home Internet Prices $5/Month Starting Dec. 1 AT&T has notified home internet customers that their monthly plan rates will increase by $5 starting December 1. The move follows a similar $5 increase in November 2024 and comes despite AT&T reporting $4.9 billion in profit for the last quarter. According to the company’s customer email and statements to reporters, AT&T says the increase is needed "to ensure [it continues] providing the quality service and support [customers] deserve." The company is offering ways to offset the rise if customers enroll in eligible billing options: $10/month discount for customers who enroll an eligible bank account in Autopay and Paperless Billing. $5/month discount for customers who enroll a debit card in Autopay. It’s unclear how long these discounts will remain available,…

MacBook Pro sold without charger in EU & UK — Apple prepares for new EU rule Apple’s latest MacBook Pro is being sold without a power adapter for customers in the EU and the United Kingdom. The move has sparked discussion online, with some observers incorrectly claiming the EU has banned including chargers — the reality appears to be that Apple is positioning itself ahead of upcoming EU regulations. Key points: Apple removed the charger from the box for EU & UK sales of the new MacBook Pro. The change has prompted debate about whether this was mandated by the EU — official EU rules standardize chargers but do not explicitly ban bundled adapters; Apple frames this as preparation for those rules. Environmental and product-standardization arguments factor into the decision,…

Apple deal roundup: limited iPad discounts, notable savings on Air, Macs and accessories After a wave of deep discounts around Prime Day and other retailer events, iPad deals are thinner this week — a pre-Black Friday lull, essentially. That said, a handful of worthwhile discounts remain for shoppers who want to grab higher-capacity models or popular accessories. Highlights include a $50 discount on the 256GB iPad (A16), big markdowns on certain iPad Air configurations (including the 1TB 11" M3 Air for $949 and the 13" M3 512GB cellular Air for $1,000), and price drops on AirPods 4, AirTags (4-pack), the M4 Mac mini and the M4 MacBook Air. iPad (A16) 256GB: $50 off — a modest but useful saving if you want more storage without stepping up to the Air…

Nintendo Eyes 25 Million Switch 2 Units by March 2026 as Demand Surges Nintendo has asked suppliers to build 25 million Switch 2 consoles by the end of its fiscal year on March 30, 2026, signaling strong confidence in continued sales momentum through the upcoming holiday season. The company believes the new console could exceed its own forecast of 15 million units sold in the first fiscal year and may even outpace the original Switch’s record launch pace. Key details at a glance: Production request: 25 million Switch 2 units to be manufactured by March 2026. Nintendo’s forecast: 15 million units for the first fiscal year; outside estimates suggest around 20 million could be sold this year if momentum continues. Original Switch benchmark: 17.79 million units sold in its first…